Rapid Fire Reviews, Beacons Of My Adolescence: Freezepop, Pure X and Braids
For this set of rapid reviews rather than have any kind of musical theme tying these records together I decided to revisit a trio of bands that I was either totally obsessed with or were relevant to the culture around me at one point or another in my life. I hadn't kept up with the groups and I'm sad their records initially slipped by me but I didn't want to end the year without talking about them.
Freezepop - Fantasizer
Freezepop are a synth pop and electro pop band from Boston that I have been enjoying for just about as long as I can remember. I'm not sure where I was originally turned on to it but the bands 2007 record Future Future Future Perfect has been in my rotation ever since and I was excited to learn that just a few months ago they had dropped a long awaited 5th album, their first in 10 years. Sonically Freezepop haven't missed a beat as they return to a bright synth pop sound with sweet synths and a rumbling grooves that feel like they're coming from the realm of house music. While the sound certainly isn't groundbreaking I think the band does it well for the most part and uses to formula to craft catchy hooks. The most commendable thing about the record is that the band isn't afraid of crafting some more indulgent storytelling through their songs than you'll catch in any other music that sounds like this. While it isn't quite Dylan-esque these songs have characters and situations and legitimate narratives that come to life with the sonic backing. While I don't expect this to become a sleeper hit of any kind I was excited by how much returning to these songs had to offer beyond their poppy demeanor. 6.5/10
Pure X - Pure X
Taking a trip back to my grade school days I'm not sure there we're many songs that made as immediate an impact on myself and a group of analogous indie music fans as Pure X's Starlight. While most weren't into their less accessible early work as I was it was weird to have a band and song that were so influential to us at the time seem to disappear completely into this air. Apparently Pure X disbanded, then quietly reformed in 2018 only to surprise drop their long awaited 4th studio album 6 years after Starlight first made it way into my life. While the song doesn't have the same effect on me that it once did I still went into this record exciting and expecting to rekindle some kind of relationship with the band. Unfortunately the bands hazy slurred soft rock fails to tell any compelling stories to justify its sugary minimalism. There are certainly some hooks here that stick and some moments of somber reflection that are compelling but everything is pretty low impact when all is said and done. 5/10
Braids - Shadow Offering
More recently in my life than the previous two groups, I became a big fan of Braids on the back of the trio's 2015 album Deep In The Iris. The groups high brow blends of synthetic instrumentation with natural soundscapes as well as frontwoman Raphaelle Standell-Preston's unique vocals made for a refreshing indie treat. The band faded out of my view in the years since then but I was very excited to dive into their new material the moment I learned they were back with a 4th studio album. Shadow Offering sounds like the band hasn't missed a beat with driving meditative instrumentals and wonderfully eclectic vocals that channel the likes of Joanna Newsom, Bjork and Sue Tompkins of Life Without Buildings. The record has a remarkably compelling track in it's later half with the 9 minute Snow Angel which sees RSP pondering her place in the modern day social climate which features an excellent spoken word breakdown at its core. The record is versatile and while it's often quite tame it's rarely boring with attention grabbing vocals and sweet instrumental passages around every corner. 7.5/10
