One day last winter break, I was in the mall with a friend and he dragged me into American Eagle. Like most stores in the mall, there was music playing, serving as a backdrop for the shopping experience. I looked at the screen, and much to my surprise, I saw indie bands playing, decked out in plaid and sporting wayfarer sunglasses. But when I really thought about it, it made sense. The breezy music these bands create perfectly fits the lifestyle and hip image the brand was trying to market. This was an eye-opening moment for me, making me realize how far indie's reach has extended, from urban centers where ""cool"" is born to a mall in Middle America.
So what does this story have to do anything? When I first heard ""The Look,"" the single off Metronomy's third release, it took me back to that day at the mall. In fact, the song sounded like it belonged on that American Eagle screen. It has a catchy groove accented with a smooth bass line and synthesizer flourishes. But just like those songs at the mall, I couldn't help but find it sterile and manufactured, somehow lacking soul. Sure it was pleasant on the ears, but was there depth below the polished surface? This is a question I found myself constantly asking while listening to The English Riviera.
I realize that so far this piece reeks of elitism and snobbery, but there were moments I genuinely enjoyed on this album. ""The Bay"" has a funky bass line and an infectious 80s dance feel. Equally hard to resist are the keys on ""Loving Arm,"" which would sound right at home on a Caribou record. The album's finest moment comes on ""Trouble,"" whose intro has shimmering guitar lines over a loose, swaying drumbeat reminiscent of Built to Spill. But the problem that ruins this song is Riviera's downfall: Bad vocals. The singing is several-pants-sizes-too-small high pitched, and while it doesn't reach such satellite levels on the rest of the album, it still sounds unpleasant throughout. I found that I enjoyed the female vocals of ""Everything Goes My Way"" infinitely more than the squeaky forced notes of her male counterpart. To make matters worse, lyrically the majority of the albums tracks are cookie-cutter, cliche love songs. The aforementioned ""Trouble,"" is a prime example: ""There's a tear in your eye, and there's no I in team. Guess we're going to argue again."" It doesn't bode well for an album if the lyrics are so cringe worthy they distract the listener, and take away from what's happening musically.
While it's filled with ear-pleasing touches, the album doesn't throw the listener any curves. The songs are mainly summery and carefree, resembling the album's Riviera namesake. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and if you want some upbeat, danceable summer music, this might be for you. Just don't expect anything unique or challenging. Being poppy and catchy aren't bad traits, just look at Vampire Weekend. The thing that sets them apart is that they bring something distinct and creative to the table, and forge their own individual sound. Metronomy doesn't show me anything that separates them from the pack, and allows them to stand out in the vast expanse of indie pop acts. The majority of The English Riviera simply comes across as carefree background music to a summer day—perhaps at the mall—but nothing more.
