Electro-pop, slow, sad ballads and existential lyrics combine together to create the typical Broken Bells sound. Although the tracks are seemingly disconnected, Broken Bells still manages to make space rock sound original.
Danger Mouse and James Mercer deliver in the duo’s new album “After the Disco.” Although still alternative with Mercer’s introverted lyrics, “After the Disco” is faster and more upbeat than their 2010 eponymous album, and gives off a vibe resembling a spacey Black Keys melded with Death Cab for Cutie.
“After the Disco” begins with “Perfect World,” which encompasses the alternative rock feeling of the whole album. After a minute-long intro of medium-paced space rock, Mercer takes over, singing lyrics about open doors and the desire for more. The speed picks up as Mercer is joined by a background choir and claims that he knows better now.
“I was upside down/ I thought love would always find a way/ but I know better now,” Mercer sings.
“After the Disco,” the album‘s namesake, features Mercer singing of denial and heartbreak.
The high-pitched vocals and upbeat rock tempo showcase Mercer’s talents.
“But after the disco all of the shine just faded away,” Mercer sings.
“Holding on for Life,” the album’s first single, maintains the space rock theme in the opening melody, and then transforms into more of Black Keys rock melded with a background chorus. While the song as a whole seems disconnected, each individual part is catchy and satisfying.
“Leave it Alone” starts off with a meaningful soulful solo, the low guitar repeating a melody in the background, while a mournful violin soon cries out with a subtle but upbeat background choir. Along with sorrowful melancholy lyrics and a sad slow tempo, Mercer’s low voice gives off a sad and isolated southern vibe, even after it picks up.
Mercer sticks to the same sad melody in “The Angel and the Fool.” The title says it all – the song is a sad ballad with a gospel-like choir. A low, deep, dejected cello solo makes it slow and melancholy. Lonely whistling and a female background choir, like in “Leave it Alone,” captures the despondent spirit of the song.
Perhaps the most disappointing tracks on Broken Bells’ new album are “Control” and “Lazy Wonderland.” The songs are much of the same with their repetitive, lazy beats and fall short of listeners’ expectations. Both songs sound similar to the tracks on their last album. They are boring, and listeners are forced to wait for some sort of intriguing change.
A change comes with “No Matter What You’re Told,” as the song opens with a light and upbeat choir, and a rock vibe that other songs on the album lack. Mercer doesn’t stick to crooning, but actually sings out in a rebellious and almost angry tone.
“With all our changes, nothing changes, no matter what you’re told,” Mercer sings.
Overall, the album is everything listeners want. Danger Mouse shows a larger influence in “After the Disco,” but Mercer still hasn’t reached the full potential that he shows in The Shins. “After the Disco” is better than the last album – most of the songs are faster and have more upbeat tunes, even with the sorrowful, introspective lyrics – and shows growth that has a pleasing result.