Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

“Something” Shrugs Sophomore Slump

In 2008, Brooklyn-based electronic pop duo Chairlift lived the dream of most indie bands. They released a record, appeared in an iTunes commercial and were signed to a major record label. But instead of chasing even more success, the band’s members went their separate ways to pursue various side projects. Three years later, with their second album, Something, Chairlift not only sticks to its tried-and-true synth-pop formula but improves and expands on it to show just how versatile the band can be.

The album opens with “Sidewalk Safari,” an extremely poppy tune with a scattered drum loop and lead singer Caroline Polachek’s signature airy vocals. The song is genuinely unnerving in the best way possible, with its theremin-esque guitar coupled with Polachek’s lyrics about hunting down her enemies and running them over with her car. Her emotion is palpable, and her sincerity is conveyed immediately. In the album’s first few lines, Polacheck lets the listener know that she is comfortable in any role, be it that of a vengeful psychopath or jaded socialite.

The album’s highlight comes with “I Belong in Your Arms,” a breathless homage to the band’s 1980sinfluences. The song brings to mind the likes of Depeche Mode or Blondie circa “Heart of Glass.” The synthesizer shimmers and glistens while the skittering beat makes for an infectious groove.

The multiple changes of pace can unfortunately grow tiresome; songs like “Take It Out on Me” and “Cool as Fire” prove sluggish and even boring.

Still, Something is quick to redeem itself. The simple lyrics and snap-along melody of “Ghost Tonight” make for a song that’s much more accessible, if not a little forgettable. In addition, “Amanaemonesia”raises the quirk factor of the album without becoming ridiculous and overblown, something that has plagued many similar bands of recent years.

The second half of Something is much stronger than the first. The surreal sound of “Frigid Spring” is engrossing and reminiscent of an early Beck album. “Guilty as Charged,” the album’s closer, is a testament to just how adaptable Chairlift can be. The duo spans multiple genres while simultaneously maintaining a sound that is distinctly its own. Polacheck laments in the album’s final seconds: “If I gave you what you’re asking for / You wouldn’t want it anymore.”  That’s where she’s wrong.Something is exactly what fans bored of the same indie synth-pop have been asking for, and they will certainly ask for more.

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