Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
released March 1st, 2010, on Kitsuné.
I am aware that some reviews have already been written, on TeaZine, Take a Drag or Two, or Unknown Mag in particular, but after a week of heavy listening, I think I know the record well enough to talk about it. It is not the album of the century, but I believe it will please all of our friends who listen to varieties on the radio – and to other styles, when you tell them to do so …
It is hard not to think about Bombay Bicycle Club or Good Books (rip) when you hear the shrill sounds of the guitars following each other quickly. However, the production of the album is rather unsuccessful, compared to that of the Four Words to Stand On ep. You get the impression that the introductions of the songs have been added to make the record longer. 10 songs, 30 minutes only, it was not worth it. We could have made it without it and hit the dance floor straight away. I like and defend demos so I think all that production distorts the band, but your innocent ears probably won’t hear the difference and will get the message through to your legs and most importantly to your arms – just because I like it when you say ‘Aaaah’ with your hands in the air.
The atmosphere of the album recreates our careless teenage years – which could be something nice, but in the end isn’t. I also find it difficult to conceive that an 18 year old teenage boy could identify to the music, unless he has been listening to British indie records for more than 5 years. The lyrics are though close to what you can hear on the Good Shoes’ first album, that is to say teenagers concerns - ‘Now you’re on your own, won’t you come back home’ track #2 ; ‘Do you want it all ?’ track#3 - except that they rhyme a lot less. There are also many repetitions and it does not give much rhythm to the whole. This may be the missing point that could have improved the album.
Nevertheless, TDCC has an undeniable charm – isn’t the word ‘about’, pronounced with an Irish accent charming?
They are charming because they bring a change, and it shows that the band has not been as formatted as one could think - one more band in the NME to make the kids dance in the clubs.
On the whole, the choruses are rather catchy and light and there is craziness at the end of the songs, which is pretty nice. A special mention for I Can Talk which sticks to your head more than the others. I noticed that the drum machine does not do all the work – there isn’t any drummer in the band – and it is quite a relief!
The record’s surprise is the track called What You Know. I was on an escalator in the subway and in two lines only the song gave me a shock – ‘I can tell just what you want, you don’t want to be alone’. It is not the revelation of the century, we already knew about that, but the way words have been put caught my attention, as if someone putting the nail on the head was making me feel good. The following track is, according to me, the best one - Eat that up, it’s good for you. Another advertisement for fruits and vegetables? Of course not. I remember the line 'You would look a little better don’t you know if you just wore a little less make up’, but as far as the melody is concerned¸ there is nothing new compared to the other songs, except for the very end. An ephemeral and timeless burst of guitars which I would have loved to hear more, even if it would not have been as pleasant, I agree. Then it goes down slowly thanks to the singer’s voice and nothing else matters. I badly wanted to press the rewind button, too bad for You’re Not Stubborn and for the stupid robot voices - You’re still travelling - for that matter.
I just realised that in the end TDCC may have understood it all – to never leave the audience satisfied is to make them want to come back again and again hoping they will hear what they like one day. Yes indeed, this is it, I am still hungry, or maybe I was expecting too much from the band.
Appointment made for the new album – band tour with Phoenix is almost sold out! I am looking forward to seeing how they will do after getting used to all this fame and having time to question themselves.
By Littlesyd. Translated by Comète.