“Never judge a book by its cover” is an adage so beaten into our collective consciousness that it’s hardly up for debate any more, but if Saturday=Youth is any indication, it clearly has no bearing on album covers. An immaculately tailored Brat Pack of models poses sullenly in the orange glow of an autumn afternoon. It’s no accident that front-and-center sits a young Molly Ringwald look-alike, but the shot’s polish belies the carefully crafted throwback aesthetic. Instead of a 1986 John Hughes set, it comes across as a self-consciously nostalgic 2008 Vogue shoot, and the music follows suit.
The word “cinematic” has all but defined Anthony Gonzalez’s work as M83 and Saturday=Youth is perhaps his most literally film-inspired album to date. Instead of the layered synth-driven soundscapes of Before the Dawn Heals Us, Gonzales presents a more pop-inspired approach on his latest effort that comes across more “soundtrack” than “score.” Fittingly so; Gonzales is candid with his intention to pay homage to ’80s teen movies. “The soundtracks were perfect and the characters were so optimistic,” he tells XLR8R magazine, and unsurprisingly, the album’s sound palette leans heavily on sounds not heard since he was in high school. With Ewan Pearson (of Cocteau Twins fame) on board to assist with production duties, the warped electric drums and echoing keyboards on tracks like “Skin of the Night” are spot-on. However, the perfectionist, halcyon-sounding studio polish keeps the whole effort grounded in the present, leaving the VHS blur of its inspirational material conspicuously neglected.
Admittedly, it’s refreshing to hear a contemporary tribute to the ’80s without the smug and witless “irony” prevalent in today’s music and culture. The wistful buildup of the opener, “You, Appearing,” and even the thick shoegaze of “Dark Moves of Love” are beautifully crafted songs, but the highlight remains the underwater bass-kicks smothered in waves of synths near the end of “Couleurs”–a track that stands out like a sore thumb against the throwback pop that pervades the rest of the album. Ultimately M83 isn’t riding the crest of any cultural breakthrough here; an ’80s-inspired concept album in 2008 is hardly an original idea, ironic or not. If a slickly produced and idealistically nostalgic tribute to Breakfast Club-inspired teenage melodramas of yesteryear is what you’ve been pining for, then you’re in for a treat; otherwise you might just want to keep your head in the present and cherry-pick your favorite tracks from iTunes.
Don’t have time to search out this week’s essential MP3s, streams and viral videos? That’s why we’re here.
M83 “Graveyard Girl”
Like a John Hughes movie put to music, the latest from former My Bloody Valentine soundalikes M83–aka French producer Anthony Gonzalez–is a brilliant throwback to high school life in the early Eighties. In other words it sounds like the precise intersection of New Order and The Psychedelic Furs.
Frank Black “I Sent Away”
The Pixies frontman resumes his low-key solo career with an appropriately lo-fi solo track that lurches forward on rapid fire punk riffs, spit-out verses and a manic harmonica solo. Nice but still not as good as “Monkey Gone To Heaven.”
(via The Yellow Stereo)
She & Him “Why Stay Here”
Ever wondered who exactly goes on eBay to buy those old K-Tel compilations from the ’70s filled with songs by the Carpenters and Olivia Newton-John? The most likely culprits are Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.
MP3: whystayhere.mp3
Does It Offend You, Yeah “We Are Rockstars”
The next pack of young British punks certain to salvage the music industry this week, according to the NME. To our ears, this is fairly standard industrial noise on just a touch of ecstasy.
(via KEXP)
MGMT “Destrokk”
“You are soft/ We are hard,” the Brooklyn duo contends on this track. That’s kind of rich considering they wear women’s sunglasses and play the kind of retro synth-pop last heard when people with aerodynamic hair and pirate shirts ruled the charts.
(via Yukon Promotions)
Lykke Li “Dance Dance Dance”
A Swedish singer with just the right combination to break millions of indie-boy hearts: Big eyes, little voice, crazy ass song.
(via Control Group Co)
Weezer “Pork and Beans”
The latest single from the Los Angeles quartet features topical lyrics that sound like they were written by that dude in Train that always sings about soy mocha lattes. But the music, a riveting blast of guitars, more than makes up for it.
(via Consequence of Sound)