Determined to spend some quality time with Broken Bells’ self-titled debut, I left my ipod behind and placed the CD in my car stereo. Now, after a few uninterrupted spins, I can confidently say that I’m really enjoying what James Mercer and Brian Burton put together. The ten track album is tight, smooth and superbly arranged…in fact, it seems almost effortless. Although, I can’t lie, after the first listen I thought to myself, “what, this is it, what a bummer.” This premature reaction was my fault because I unintentionally built up wonky expectations of what the album should sound like. In all fairness, it’s James Mercer and Danger Mouse, they both have well warranted reputations.
“The High Road”, album opener and first single, is a well crafted, electronically infused pop song that’s both melodic and instigating. After multiple listens, it still sounds refreshing; definitely an album highlight. I was ready to overlook, “Vaporized”, but then the last minute arrived and depleting drums ushered in Mercer’s voice softly confessing, “Doubtless, we’ve been through this, So if you want to follow me you should know, I was lost then and I am lost now, And I doubt I’ll ever know which way to go.”
I was instantly drawn to “The Ghost Inside”, mostly because Mercer switches to an uncommon (for him) falsetto and slyly grooves along with Burton’s funky beat and subtle quirks. It’s also the one track where I’m not consciously aware of the subconscious thoughts in my head regarding The Shins. The second half of the album is not as immediate as the first half, it requires more patience. For example, the track “Citizen”, which reminds me of AIR during the opening seconds, starts off slow and gloomy but the mood changes with a glimmer of hope inside a simple contemplation: “From the moment that were born, Till we’re old and tired out, Do we ever know?”
Broken Bells tip their hat and conclude the album with the infectious, “The Mall & Misery”, a track that opens with a soothing arrangement of strings and swiftly transitions into a catchy tune that’s topped off with a sharp guitar riff. The album is definitely a grower!
