(First listen, that is, if you haven’t already heard it elsewhere. I realize I am slacking on the new releases. SORRY)
I remember when Pitchfork released a little blurb a while back forewarning us of a brand spankin’ new collaboration— that of Shins’ frontman James Mercer with acclaimed producer Danger Mouse— and since we all know that unexpected collaborations (i.e. Blackroc) are SO the new supergroups (i.e Monsters of Folk, Dead Weather), I was pretty pumped about hearing what these kids have been working on. And they did not fail me as they released their first single from their upcoming March 2010 album, entitled The High Road.
(Pre-First Impressions of the Song: Broken Bells kind of sounds like the name of an Iron and Wine song. I wonder if having a whimsically folkish band name will hinder their true talent or turn people away who tend to judge books— in this case bands— by their cover. Well, let’s give this baby a listen anyway.)
First Impressions:
1. Ok, nice intro, was expecting something… different, but I’ll take it. Feeling the groove.
2. Wait, is this someone else singing a Black Keys song?
3. Oh, just kidding. Hey, familiar soaring Shins’ voice, what’s up.
4. Definitely feeling a Gorillaz vibe. And definitely ok with it.
5. The mix of drum lines and synth is pretty damn awesome. Sounds like a futuristic version of, well, The Shins.
6. And just when it seems futuristic….Beatles/60’s vibe right around the 3 minute mark.
6. Killer semi-acapella ending.
OOOOOK. So, all in all, I am intrigued. I can see this group going in one or two directions. Either A) the unexpected collaborative genius that these 2 kids bring to the table soars first into blogosphere obsession only to be followed by extreme mainstream hype OR B) the group receives initial blog hype with their first singles only to release the rest of their album to reviews claiming they “fell far short of their mark” and never quite lived up to their potential. I guess every collaborative effort faces this fork in the road, but hopefully, Broken Bells will successfully head down Path A. And then who knows— we will probably be hearing them in an obnoxious car commercial, or something to that effect.
