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Myth Takes

Initially, I considered them as the classic disposable American band. The kind that produces a nice single you listen to for a week in your car and then quickly forget. I was wrong. Beneath the surface of this eight-member Californian band, there’s much more than meets the eye.

They self-define as "post-punk", but in reality, I hear very little punk (luckily!). They are, in every sense, a DANCE band, especially after this third album. The first two were more funky-rock, this one certainly makes you dance more, but without crossing into commercial terrain. What do they play? They’re actually hard to categorize, but personally, if I think of a comparison, I immediately think of: early Red Hot + INXS + Depeche Mode. They alternate between very funky pieces and more electronic ones. In terms of contemporary bands, they’d fit well on stage with Arctic Monkeys, LCD Soundsystem, and White Stripes. They are very cheerful, play their blend effortlessly with decent technique on the instruments without malice. At first listen, the bass and vocals stand out in skill. The bass has a full and rounded sound that gives a slight ’80s allure to the album as a whole. The singer has a very warm voice, which he sometimes skillfully alternates with the sharp entries of a female backing vocalist in full "NYC disco" style reminiscent of "The Warriors".

The intro is also the title track. It’s not bad, because it immediately makes you tap your foot under the table. The guitar feels a lot like a Tarantino movie, and the bass line vaguely recalls the good "Flea" of the '80s. No. 2 "ALL MY HEROES..." raises the fear of the worst. It’s a bad song definitely born from a jam session in the studio with probably a few too many "joints". Then comes no. 3 "MUST BE THE MOON". Wow...great track! The quality leap from the previous tracks is so significant that they seem like a different band. Beyond the main body of the song, which is very catchy and original, what’s astounding are the last two instrumental minutes. A beautiful progressive segment where you appreciate the interplay between the different instruments, as usual, supported by the excellent funky bass. The electronics are there but neither predominant nor intrusive. Just in the background filling the score’s quantum. "A NEW NAME" opens with an intro that reminds a bit too much of "Tears for Fears" or "Talk Talk" style songs, but it fits. However, the flow of the piece does not live up to the expectations set by the beginning. For no. 5 "Heart of Hearts", sorry but I coin a term... "mini masterpiece"! Truly a "of the virgin" piece! Even though I recommend listening to the single version (3:45) rather than the album version (6:02), which loses some of its impactful force due to its length. Here the female backing vocalist and the post-funky guitar line take center stage. The semi-rapped singing adds a touch of class, and the bass line gets your foot tapping. If I may give the band a piece of advice, changing the drummer wouldn’t be bad. The same seven with (without bringing in the big names) the guy from "Arctic Monkeys" (whom I like a lot) on drums would be a whole different story. This one is a bit too static and rigid for my taste.

"SWEET LIFE" is a song they could have avoided. However, the tribal percussion towards the end of the track is decent. "YADNUS" is cool in its simplicity. The guitar riff with wah-wah and slide creates a nice Californian effect at the start. Then the rest of the track kicks in, very '70s dance. Not bad! No. 8, I anticipate it to be subdued. And indeed, it is...damn? But overall, it's less worse than many fillers from much more celebrated bands, though too long. "BREAK IN CASE..." is indeed pretty bad. The last one "INFIFOLD", as is the trend now, is a track that has nothing to do with the rest of the album. Piano and voice for a ballad that, well...leaves a bit of an almond taste in your mouth, but has the merit of closing the CD without a bang.

Overall, I believe that an album containing a "mini masterpiece" and 3 other good tracks out of 10 deserves to easily pass the passing grade heading towards the shores of 7. However, it feels like they could do and give more but can’t quite take off completely. Maybe having 8 members means too many different souls to satisfy? Curious to see them live...