Fitz and the Tantrums
continue their run of hooky pop offerings with 2019's infectious
All the Feels
. Having first grabbed fans with the retro '60s-style soul that made up their 2010 debut,
Pickin' Up the Pieces
, the band led by lead singer
Michael Fitzpatrick
quickly evolved into a slick, modern pop outfit with 2013's
More Than Just a Dream
. It was a transition that they completed with 2016's
, an uber-glossy production that spawned the ubiquitous double-platinum hit "HandClap" and firmly established the group as a pop phenomenon.
arrives very much in the same vein as its two predecessors, with songs like "123456," "Ain't Nobody But Me," and "SuperMagik" built upon kinetic synth riffs, programmed-percussion grooves, and
Fitzpatrick
's warmly resonant vocals. The best moments on
, like the power-poppy "I Need Help!" and the new wave-sounding "OCD," balance hooks with a textured '80s-inspired production that pulls you deeper into the rousing energy of the choruses. That said, as the title implies, there are more than just upbeat anthems on
, and cuts like the title track, "Basement," and "Dark Days," while still uplifting, find
drawing ever so slightly upon how the turmoil of the modern social climate can negatively affect your outlook. These aren't really protest songs, but they are songs meant to inspire fortitude during tough times. On "Dark Days" he sings, "Imma keep dreamin' in these dark days/'Cuz you never know." Regardless of sentiment, this track, like many of the tracks on
, straddles the line between club bangers and kids pop mixtape fodder, leaving you in a better mood than you were in before you hit Play. ~ Matt Collar