Foster the People's "Torches"

Indie artists have taken over the music scene and radio airwaves this past year and Los Angeles native Foster the People have helped in that takeover. With the release of their surprise hit single, "Pumped Up Kicks", the group was able to put out their debut pop album, Torches, which ended up peaking at number eight on the Billboard Top 200. With visible comparisons to the sound of bands such as MGMT, Foster the People is sharing their music with an audience that is growing larger and larger day by day. Looking for something unique and different? Then this is a band for you.
The short, ten track album starts off decently with "Helena Beat", a track that was available for free on iTunes for a week. The lead singer's vocals come off very monotone and tranquil, and it is in the vocals where I see the comparisons to MGMT the strongest. The song does a good job at introducing their unique sound to an unsuspecting listener. Nothing amazing, but a nice, pop track nonetheless. The lead single, "Pumped Up Kicks", is steadily moving up the charts and heating up the airwaves, and its success is well deserved. Gun control is the message behind the song, but it is not done in an annoying, political way. The message is backed up with a catchy beat that goes well with superb songwriting that gives something new to an industry that packages the same sound over and over again. One of the best moments on the album occurs when "Call It What You Want" steps up to the plate. The song is nothing to be raved about, but there is something about it that just appeals to my liking. The background production is what really carries the song to a level of success and I was completely hooked with one listen of the great chorus that brings everything together. "Don't Stop (Color On the Walls)" is a cute track that would be fun to sing along to. The group's performance just draws you in and you never really want to leave which is a good thing. Musicianship is an important aspect, especially on this song. The track contains more of a pop band vibe than the songs that preceded it in my opinion; it stands on its own feet without sounding out of place. The album continues with "Waste", a sweet love song about wanting to stay together. The track does contain a few cheesy and cliched lines, but they are cute enough to work with the lead singer's voice and the heartfelt feel that the track emits. I commend the song for what it is, but after four almost similar tracks the song got a little boring and lost in the middle; just not anything memorable. The album encounters a brief taste of mediocrity when "I Would Do Anything for You" begins to play. The song contains some verses that make it sound more dared than it actually is, I feel it is trying to be something that it is not. The vocals and lyrics are not anything horrible, but I felt that the song never took off and coasted on to be something dull and average, characteristics not ideal for a debut. The album gets back on the right path with "Houdini", a track that uses some interesting beats to create an enjoyable experience. The lyrics do not really carry any death, but something about the song works. The track follows in the steps of the first single as being something fresh and different, and once the title is sung it just makes me love it more than I should. "Life On the Nickel" is a strangely composed track that will either appeal to a listener or simply get skipped once it comes up. I am honestly stuck in between and not sure what to think of it. The vocals are so low that I cannot really make out what is being said, but I am still attracted to the beats that are being used. Interesting at first, the song slowly dives into being just okay. Fast paced production is paired with soft, intriguing vocals in order to create "Miss You". The track does sound like two completely different songs, but they are able to come together to form a good piece of work. I would have liked the entire track to be the same as the chorus, but I will take it how it is. I am criticizing it for what it could have been, not for what it is. The album closes with "Warrant", the longest track on the entire project. After a weird, unneeded minute long intro, the song does prove to be a decent closing track that may contain the best vocals heard throughout the entire effort. For a five minute song, I found that there was not much meat, and felt uninterested during some of it which is disappointing. The track is good, but that is all I can really say about it.
Torches is an album slowly gaining traction by a band that is gaining the recognition they deserve on a certain level. Foster the People has created an album that sticks with the same sound throughout, but that sound is something that should not be looked down upon. Even though some of the tracks seem to blend together, there are some moments within that really show the true talent of the group. The first single is enjoyable, but the other tracks follow in its footsteps to the point where boredom is encountered halfway through. First half hits hard, second half not so much. For good vocals and some standout tracks, the album barely receives a 78%.

Tracks to Hear: "Pumped Up Kicks", "Call It What You Want", and "Houdini"


Foster The People - Call It What You Want by Posh Magazine