 | Tokyo Police Club |
Tokyo Police Club I have been a pretty big supporter of them ever since I saw them at Schuba’s way back in the EP days, and they were pretty amazing then. They have subsequently released an album, toured like crazy, and are now releasing Champ, their second full-length album. There is certainly some more to like if you love what they have done in the past, but they are also trying to broaden their sound a little bit here, and in the end to me it doesn’t end up sounding as focused and I don’t find myself loving this record as much as I did the debut and the EPs.
Tokyo Police Club has really been pretty much known for insanely quick, short bursts of indie rock goodness, with basically every song they’ve ever written clocking in under 3 minutes. With this album, that is still largely the case, but they have kind of broadened their sound to feel more like traditional rock/indie songs with longer choruses, longer bridges and more typical song construction. While I think there is no doubt that they are in a place that they need to broaden their sound, I’m not sure that the results here really work as well as I would hope. The under 3 minute song is what they do best, and their style doesn’t translate as well when they are trying to write and build more straightforward “normal” rock songs.
“Favourite Food” is an excellent example of where the album goes right, and features a long (for these guys) intro section and a building tempo and sound through to the finish that works superbly. “Breakneck Speed” is a slower, almost Interpol-like droning song that also is superbly well done. Everything feels right with these songs. And then you have songs like “Wait Up (Boots Of Danger)”, that are more standard fare from TPC and fits more into their mold of prior work. While there are these moments where the album really works, overall it feels a little underwhelming and neither the more traditional rock stylings nor the more typical TPC styling feel like they are all that they could be. The album feels a little stuck in the middle in that regard. The first half of the album, with the songs mentioned above, is a great example of how the band can have great variety and some great songs as well, but the back half of the album doesn’t feel as fresh or as well put together as the first.
Undoubtably, the band realizes that the sub-3 minute indie rock flash style is going to be a little limiting in the long run, and they have to spread their wings and take on some new challenges along the way. I certainly applaud them for that, and they have created a less boxed-in style to explore in with this album. The problem is that I feel some of the charm and blitzkrieg style is lost a bit in the process, and in the end the moments of classic TPC sometimes don’t reach the peaks of their prior material, and their stabs at more traditional song styles and constructions are not quite to the level you need to carry a great album. All of that being said though, they have once again created an album that is just straightforward and fun to listen to. The energy of these guys is still there on the record, and that is one of those things you really have to love about this band. Although I was wanting them to give me a bit more, the album is still great fun and a good listen from start to end.
Tokyo Police Club – Favourite Food – From Champ (CD, Vinyl, MP3, iTunes)
Tokyo Police Club – Breakneck Speed – From Champ (CD, Vinyl, MP3, iTunes)
