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Big Mess [LP]
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Big Mess [LP]
Current price: $25.99
Barnes and Noble
Big Mess [LP]
Current price: $25.99
Size: OS
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On their buoyant, third full-length album, 2016's
, Los Angeles'
continue their transformation from a kinetic, hippie-dance pop outfit into a mature, if still playful, radio-ready act. The album follows the group's equally inspired 2013 effort
, and showcases the talents of lead vocalist/guitarist
, lead vocalist/keyboardist
, drummer
, guitarist
, and bassist
, who replaced
in 2014. Once again,
(son of
'
) takes the production helm. However, in the spirit of transformation, the group also brought on seasoned pro
(
,
), who produced a handful of tracks. The result is that while
retains all of the band's exuberant, over-the-top pop fun, it's a finely honed insanity that balances the indie sensibilities of
with the kooky pop lyricism of
. Also adding to the album's emotional impact is the band's newfound maturity in light of several years of hard touring away from home and the birth of
and
's first child. The couple's vocal symmetry has always been a huge part of what makes
's sound so engaging, and their growth, both personally and creatively, is evident throughout
. It's a theme they tackle straight-away on the soaring lead-off track "Welcome to Your Life," singing, "Been wondering, I take a chance/That chance is circumstance/'Cause nothing ever comes without a change." Elsewhere, cuts like the bombastic "Do You Love Someone," "Standing in the Sun," and the pulsing, electronic dance music-infused "Good Morning," find the band staking out the improbable, and improbably likeable, middle ground between
. Similarly, tracks like the yearning "Heart of Mine" and romantic "Enlighten Me" bring to mind an engaging mix of the
. Which isn't to say that
don't sound like themselves here. On the contrary, they've simply reached the place where they are able to channel their influences through their own voice and their own experiences. Ultimately, by celebrating those life experiences on
have crafted an ecstatic, joyful album. ~ Matt Collar