Starfucker is an electronic trio from Portland Oregon and “Reptilians” is their second LP. The album (like their first) is a glossy hi-fi pop album that’s ultra danceable. Filled with plenty of MGMTish keyboard moments and fun synthy stuff, there is probably something on “Reptilians” for anyone who finds themselves enjoying Passion Pit, Daft Punk, Yelle, even Neon Indian.
I guess the one issue is that the album offers very little that you haven’t heard before. More of just a mish-mash of familiar sounds from the genre(s). Also, while almost all the songs were solid listens on their own, none of them really had a hook that would keep me coming back for more, which made “Reptilians” kind of hard to focus on for the long haul. Standout tracks include “Julius”, in which spacey keyboard and drums set the tone nicely, and then kick in especially powerfully after the brief lull for some muffled “Miike Snow” like lyrics. Also, I really enjoyed the next track “Bury Me Alive” simpy for how the beat drops at like 37 seconds if for nothing else. Anyways “Reptilians” is not at all a bad album for a band that frontman Josh Hodges said wanted to see ” ..How far we’d get with a stupid name like that”. And yes, yes it is a very stupid name Josh.
This is my favorite song off the new “Hot Chip” album. The album is called “One Life Stand” and is stunningly good. This is what dancy electronic music should be people!
The Ruby Suns are an electro-pop group out of New Zealand signed to Sub Pop records. The song ‘Cranberry’ seemed kind of silly at first. Sort of like Jock Jams for hipsters or something. I must really like it now though because I have listened to it a million times. Starts off with this pulsing marching band type beat then suddenly cuts to blunt but catchy NBA game style synth line and eventually builds into a fully fleshed out exuberant chorus.
Im thinkn’ that ‘neo-psychadelic’ is probably the most over used term in music today. Also heard that bands like, Grizzly Bear, Black Lips, Of Montreal and Animal Collective are neo-psych. Not sure what this means. None of these bands sound similar. Thinkn’ that ‘neo-psychadelic’ might just mean, ‘music that is better enjoyed while getting high’. Couldn’t this be all music?
High or not, I think that “Oracular Spectacular” is a pretty ‘buck’ cd. I think the song “Time to Pretend” might just be the “Baba-O’Riley” of our generation. Feel like both songs capture the essence of ‘youth’ and have an ‘electroish’ feel. Both songs kind of make me proud to be young, and excited for the near future.
(Time To Pretend)
(Baba O’Riley)
There is some Bob Dylan quote where he is giving this speech to all these young peeps and says,
Bob, probably thinkin bout youth...
“took me a long time to get young and now I consider myself young. And I’m proud of it. I’m proud that I’m young. And I only wish that all you people who are sitting out here today or tonight weren’t here and I could see all kinds of faces with hair on their head – and everything like that, everything leading to youngness, celebrating….Because you people should be at the beach. You should be out there and you should be swimming and you should be just relaxing in the time you have to relax. (Laughter) It is not an old peoples’ world. It is not an old peoples’ world. It has nothing to do with old people. Old people when their hair grows out, they should go out. (Laughter) And I look down to see the people that are governing me and making my rules – and they haven’t got any hair on their head – I get very uptight about it.”
It seems like Bob would ‘get’ MGMT. I’m not sure how he feels about electro or ‘neo-psychedelia’, but I think he would get their general message and tone. The whole ‘living for today’ type deal. Maybe its just because I’m young and am going through what should be an exciting year in my life, but this seemingly silly song about sex, drugs, youth, and adventure really gets to me.
I don’t think its coincidence that greats like Dylan and the Who discussed similar material. Youth is something that needs to be reveled in and appreciated. Kind of feelin’ bad for all the pre-med students of the world right now.
Anyways, I love this cd and the song. Also, I heard that “time to pretend” was originally about a mantis, via pitch4k. Think that’s pretty awesome. I like mantids. I want to hear that version now.
Can anyone better sum up neo-psychadelia?
Would Dylan like MGMT?
Does MGMT like Dylan?
Are mantids not marketable?
Starfucker is an electronic trio from Portland Oregon and “Reptilians” is their second LP. The album (like their first) is a glossy hi-fi pop album that’s ultra danceable. Filled with plenty of MGMTish keyboard moments and fun synthy stuff, there is probably something on “Reptilians” for anyone who finds themselves enjoying Passion Pit, Daft Punk, Yelle, even Neon Indian.
The Music Hoarder 