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- Date Released: March 24, 2009
- Genre: Rock/Pop
- Style: Rock
- Label: Gigantic Music / The Orchard
Brooklyn boys drop a brilliant debut tinged with sharp-tongued optimism and AM Gold
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We Say...
After four years of suffering the cruelest fits and starts of the indie circuit, from the false assurances of blog hype to near-catastrophic sickness and studio disaster, Brooklynites Harlem Shakes have emerged with an indomitable debut, a record full of the kind of poignant, sharp-tongued optimism that can only be developed through hardship.
Though the Spector-esque grandeur of the group's EP has given way to a more percussive sound, with electronic and Latin rhythms being the main additions, there's still the unmistakable whiff of AM Gold here — a lo-fi/hi-fi sweet spot that effortlessly expands and contracts to include clamoring sing-alongs, liquid keys and brittle jangles of guitar. It's the tension in Benaim's remarkable voice, the easy gait of his boyish tenor, that gives his words an effortless drawl and his nasal falsetto lifts and pinches his phrases into breathless pleas.
The album is heavy with the weariness of the city, with all its quick quips and ironic t-shirts, and powered by a deep longing for the simple, silent power of nature. Fortunately, the lyrics never get hamfisted or preachy, and their genius lies in their ambiguity — the anxious hope of "Nothing But Change Part II" could be about either Obama or a new girlfriend. "Radio Orlando" is the best song about touring malaise since the Kinks "This Time Tomorrow," and "Niagara Falls," all honky-tonk folk and Simon and Garfunkel harmonies, deserves to soundtrack the driving montage for this generation's The Graduate.
Throughout, Benaim proves adept at re-wrapping worn platitudes with an honest wit that feels just right for our recession-battered egos: "Take a lot of shit/feel real bad and get over it," he sings on "Strictly Game" before promising, "This will be a better year." And, at least as far as the Shakes are concerned, there's no doubt he's right. -
They Say...
Brooklyn's Harlem Shakes debut full-length album Technicolor Health fulfills all the promise of their 2007 EP Burning Birthdays and justifies all the buzz built by their live shows. Unfortunately, this happens on the album's first two tracks; the rest of the album is nice enough but pales in comparison. "Nothing But Change, Pt. 2" is a joyous, rollicking tune that brings in a horn section, handclaps, and a vocal chorus to bolster Lexy Benaim's fragile vocals. It sounds like an Elephant 6 campfire singalong with a nice Afro-beat influence. That influence is more pronounced on "Strictly Game" and the joyousness of the music and the yearning nature of Benaim's vocals sets up a very satisfying contrast. It might have been too much to ask to keep the energy level and the quality of songs this elevated for an entire record. The third song, "TFO," starts the inevitable decline as it's overly stately rhythm and bombastic arrangement conjures up images of Paul Simon collaborating with an overly earnest U.K. stadium rock band. The rest of the album is either a little too restrained and over-produced ("Niagara Falls," "Winter Water"), slightly over-cooked (the title track, "Unhurried Hearts (Passiac Pastoral)," or forgettable ("Radio Orlando"). Only "Natural Man" busts out of the post-Shins mold and gives the listener a welcome jolt of uncomplicated energy and breezy spirit. It's not enough to save things though. Maybe the record could have been improved by splitting up the opening duo of songs, maybe a less fussy production job could have done the trick. Hopefully, they can sort it out next time because any band with songs as good as the two that open Technicolor Health deserves a second chance.
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| 01. |  |
Nothing But Change Part II |
3:39 |
|
| 02. | |
Strictly Game |
4:03 |
|
| 03. | |
TFO |
4:00 |
|
| 04. | |
Niagara Falls |
3:42 |
|
| 05. | |
Sunlight |
2:53 |
|
| 06. | |
Unhurried Hearts (Passaic Pastoral) |
3:36 |
|
| 07. | |
Winter Water |
4:21 |
|
| 08. | |
Natural Man |
4:38 |
|
| 09. | |
Radio Orlando |
3:57 |
|
| 10. | |
Technicolor Health |
2:48 |
|
| 11. | |
Marian (Bonus Track) |
3:40 |
|
11 Total Tracks, 41:17 Total Length
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Credits
- Greg Calbi - Mastering // Jon Natchez - Sax (Baritone) // Stuart Bogie - Sax (Baritone) // Stuart Bogie - Sax (Tenor) // Stuart Bogie - Bass Harmonica // Julian Tepper - Vocals // Kelly Pratt - French Horn // Chris Zane - Producer // Chris Zane - Mixing // Brian Devine - Executive Producer // Larkin Grimm - Vocals // Alex Aldi - Engineer // Alex Aldi - Mixing // Eric Biondo - Trumpet
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