Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

The Red Thangs - The Red Thangs

8/28/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Red Thangs

The Red Thangs
self-relesed; 2014

4.0 out of 5

By J Simpson



Dance funk folk punk?

Mississippi's The Red Thangs is known for energetic live shows all across Mississippi. It shows in their blend of infectious vocal harmonies, tasty and tasteful horn stabs, and catchy guitar riffs. This is music to move a room, to get down and lose yourself, forget your problems for an evening, drowning your problems in sweaty abandon.

It is pop music, pure and simple, no matter how many alternative identifiers they adopt on their self-titled debut album The Red Thangs. The production is superb throughout and helps with the visceral impact of the songs. 

The album opens up with the chords from The Clash's “London Calling” strummed on ukulele, on “Self Unconscious.” This is part of what is great about this record. There's something righteously awesome about the energetic rebellion of punk rock being absorbed into different forms and styles, and it's thrilling to watch pop being infused with a riotous current. But the fact that this insurgent anthem has been translated onto the harmless ukulele let’s us know that this mongrel has had its teeth pulled. 

The vocal performance of "All Dressed Up" is one of the best on the album. The vocalist delivery is somewhere between scatting/singing and was reminiscent Ryan Kattner from Man Man. An overall infectious song that is hard to deny.  Some of the production tricks they implement aren't overboard and fit perfectly into the song such as the cut up the vocal  sample they detune.

Icarus is another success which features Blair Bingham on lead vocals. When the chorus hit the vocal line is pure pop goodness and you will be singing along by the end of the song. 

As the album progresses the band delivers a number of other highlights which you won't want to miss including "Now? Now!", "Commonwealth", and the emotional resonant "Canadian Dream". 

The Red Thangs make pop music but it never feels cheesy or contrived on their self-titled album. This is a great album to close out the summer.
Become A Fan
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact