Feel The Sound

Track Listings
1. Runaway 3:28
2. No Matter What You Say 3:30
3. Last To Know 3:46
4. Over His Head 3:49
5. Hanging About 3:58
6. All The Same 3:27
7. Don't Know How You Do It
8. Out From Inside 3:57
9. The Hibernates 3:20
10. It's You 2:55
11. Overtaken 4:32

Discography
 Feel The Sound (2012)
The Hair the TV the Baby & the Band (2007)
On (2002)
Live at Maxwell's (2002)
What Is Not To Love (1998)
Seasick (1996)


 

Release Date: (January 31, 2012)
Label: Merge Records
Producer:


December Hotel
Overall Rating:  ++++  

(Out From Inside)

 
Album Review

Who knew the former Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum had an itch for pop gems? In the late-90s, the super-indie group, Imperial Teen, first came to the scene with their critically acclaimed 1996 Seasick, emassing further notice on the wings of the danceable, attitude-lade hit "Yoo Hoo." which appeard in multiple movie spots, eg. Not Another Teen Movie and Jawbreaker. Publications and other musicians held the queer-pop rockers in high accord, and upon reuniting in 2007, they were invited into SXSW's lineup for two shows.

Enter their fifth release, Feel the Sound, which, again, toes the pop line all too well. Upfront the joyous, multi-layered vocals and 4-count, percussive keyboards on "Runaway," "No Matter What You Say" and "Last to Know" draw a likening to seminal prog-rock acts like E.L.O. and late-era Manfred Man. But the dark clouds roll in on tracks like "Over His Head" and "Overtakin" adding a sinister/melancholic flair to the bands repertoir. Things get a bit more ethereal with the early Genesis vibe of "Hanging About" and "All the Same," but things turn on the Yo La Tengo-esque "Don't Know How You Do It" and "The Hibernates." The indie-pop sound of "Out from Inside" and "It's You" provides some unforgettable moments, jamming themselves into your mindtank via your ear canals.

And while I could make the claim that Feel the Sound can run a bit mononous at times, the songs are still well crafted. The album lays back in relation to some of their older releases, breaking loose more prog-rock undertones. The vocal harmonies are as commanding as ever, and, if anything, are the showcase of the record. All in all, Feel the Sound is an enjoyable effort.

~ Miles

  

 

  Imperial Teen (homepage)

 

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