Ra Ra Riot; New York’s answer to Phoenix, are coming crashing back to the world with newest effort ‘Beta Love’, reminding fans new and old of the technicolour dream land that spawned their much loved debut The Rhumb Line. Whilst ‘Dance With Me’ has a stabby synth and a kick drum to die for, I can’t figure out why the Maroon 5 pop persona has swallowed up front man Wes Miles. Yes it’s colourful and pop-tastic, but it’s a little hard to digest when compared to their previous works.
‘Binary Mind’ demonstrates the bands more techno side with very much a similar pop format as before. But the addition of a shredding guitar line that cuts and starts will keep stoic indie types from hitting the stop button as it is still rooted primarily in the world of Vampire Weekend and what I can only envisage catching confetti at a Flaming Lips gig would be like. The eponymous track could be; in its first bar, mistaken for the work of Friendly Fires but progresses into a party so huge it could only be made by the New Yorkers.
Now as much as I love Ra Ra Riot I cannot fathom for the life of me why they have appeared to cover a song that probably should have been sold to One Direction so that one with the curly hair can pretend to be a serious song writer but alas this is not the case. Ra Ra Riot have kept ‘Angel, Please’ for themselves and whilst it fits in with the rest of the record, I cannot get the image of teeny boppers in skinny jeans screaming this at parties after one WKD... and that makes me angry.
‘That Much’ channels the bits of ‘Gold’ by Tony Hadley that society deem acceptable. The lyrics are more grown up and less teenage in their reflection making it a standout track in a sea of pop ditties that are too pop for pop. Which brings us to closing track ‘I Shot Off’, a prime example that Ra Ra Riot don’t need fancy production or overly melodic anthems but ‘Beta Love’ feels more like an album of singles all trying to fight it out amongst themselves and jostle for position as a potential chart entry.
Listening to ‘Beta Love’ it seems Ra Ra Riot have examined what makes bands like Phoenix, Fun and even a slight Stereophonics slant to combine the best aspects and transform themselves from lovelorn indie darlings (circa the Can You Tell era) and evolving into glitter loving synthesizer worshipping rising stars and only time will tell if their new take on indie glitter pop will be received by their loyal fans as well as their previous efforts.
Written by - Rachael Scarsbrook
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‘Binary Mind’ demonstrates the bands more techno side with very much a similar pop format as before. But the addition of a shredding guitar line that cuts and starts will keep stoic indie types from hitting the stop button as it is still rooted primarily in the world of Vampire Weekend and what I can only envisage catching confetti at a Flaming Lips gig would be like. The eponymous track could be; in its first bar, mistaken for the work of Friendly Fires but progresses into a party so huge it could only be made by the New Yorkers.
Now as much as I love Ra Ra Riot I cannot fathom for the life of me why they have appeared to cover a song that probably should have been sold to One Direction so that one with the curly hair can pretend to be a serious song writer but alas this is not the case. Ra Ra Riot have kept ‘Angel, Please’ for themselves and whilst it fits in with the rest of the record, I cannot get the image of teeny boppers in skinny jeans screaming this at parties after one WKD... and that makes me angry.
‘That Much’ channels the bits of ‘Gold’ by Tony Hadley that society deem acceptable. The lyrics are more grown up and less teenage in their reflection making it a standout track in a sea of pop ditties that are too pop for pop. Which brings us to closing track ‘I Shot Off’, a prime example that Ra Ra Riot don’t need fancy production or overly melodic anthems but ‘Beta Love’ feels more like an album of singles all trying to fight it out amongst themselves and jostle for position as a potential chart entry.
Listening to ‘Beta Love’ it seems Ra Ra Riot have examined what makes bands like Phoenix, Fun and even a slight Stereophonics slant to combine the best aspects and transform themselves from lovelorn indie darlings (circa the Can You Tell era) and evolving into glitter loving synthesizer worshipping rising stars and only time will tell if their new take on indie glitter pop will be received by their loyal fans as well as their previous efforts.
Written by - Rachael Scarsbrook
Follow / [FACEBOOK]
