BLOG: Regrettably Alex or Taylor: Tourist History

 Dear All Y’all, Indie Kids and Hipsters Excluded,

    This week we give you the review of Two Door Cinema Club’s album “Tourist History.” So you could read it, if you want, if you cared. But it doesn’t matter much. We’re just two kids who get paid too little for not doing anything. So that gives us a little bit of cred. INDIE CRED.

Alex thinks he is getting fat, so as a result you probably should just ignore his review and read only mine:

These guys right away caught my attention with their single “What You Know” from their first and only LP so far, “Tourist History.” What caught me wasn’t its great vocals or its upbeat tempo, although both are present; it was the all-around great feel of the song. Its springtime (or its supposed to be) and we all deserve some good dancy happy well-written music.

It’s been a while since I felt an upbeat indie band did a great job with every single song on an album. It’s not unusual to find a few songs that are mediocre on the album, especially with a band that rose to the top of the charts with such ease. However, Two Door Cinema Club seems unable to write a super-sucky song. In the words of some random guy on the comment wall of one of their YouTube videos “Geez guys, can’t you write just one bad song?” From the opening track “Cigarettes In the Theatre” to the ending track “You’re Not Stubborn,” every single stinkin’ song rocks. I can’t think of a single time through the album where the vocals should be any different, or the music is too cluttered or a guitar riff needs more power. As a bonus, the songs stick in your head and afterwards and make you think, “these songs are sticking in my head.”

Even though the album is full of a bunch of singles, that’s all its full of. “Tourist History” is void of any song longer then 3:44, and although I can see this batch of songs being a big hit, I see the singles becoming famous and praised rather than the album as a whole becoming praised as “God coming down and making a rock album.” We have cherished albums such as Death Cab’s “Plans,” where every song flows together and makes music into solid diamond, Two Door Cinema Club has only made a batch of wicked sweet singles that have enough similarity to not distract from the album.

Would I sell my lower body to attend a concert? Ya, probably, ‘cause all the videos of them live have been flawless. Would I name them as my new favorite band? Probably not. Would I like them on Facebook? Yes, because each song has the abs of Brad Pitt. Would I purchase the album again if I somehow lost it? Heck to the yes. Would I expect something groundbreaking in the future from these dudes? I would, I honestly believe they have the ability to become a favorite.

I give these guys four thumbs up for making me excited for spring, and even though the album came out almost a year ago, if any band can keep me watching live videos for four hours straight, they deserve a review from the likes of me. Ya.

Alex is actually not getting that fat so you should actually read his review. It might save you:

    I would say that Two Door Cinema Club is as good as it is unoriginal and forgettable. The album feels like someone that is trying to hide the band patches that were once proudly sown onto their jacket and now is searching for their own sound and failing. When I first heard this CD I was stoked. Like really excited. Like I wanted to get up and dance. So I did.

    When the first track progressed into the second song, the groove stopped. So I sat down and listened to the tracks all the way through again, but each one felt like I’d heard it somewhere before. The album ended after only 33 minutes and I couldn’t remember anything that really stuck in my mind. I tried to go back and find my favorites but all of the songs sounded similar: Same structure, similar vocal melodies, same beats, even same chords and riffs.

    The album feels like the summation of The Strokes, Tokyo Police Club and Vampire Weekend with the groove of early Cut Copy and even a hint of Passion Pit. It feels like a re-scramble, albeit well-done scramble, of already-done guitar pop. The album isn’t great, wouldn’t even give it good, but it is definitely OK. I wouldn’t choose to listen to it, but it doesn’t bother me.

    So I would give this album a one thumb down and one thumb up. So a zero sum thumb. This part is for Taylor: I would go to a concert. Probably because they would be opening for someone amazing like of Montreal.