Welcome back for another album review. This time the album is not from an artist coming off a hiatus; instead this album is the very first for this artist. Let me introduce Capital Cities, an act first formed in 2009 when one half of the duo, Ryan Merchant, met the other half, Sebu Simonian, on Craigslist. Merchant was looking for someone to help him with production, and the two became partners instantly. After a few years with experimenting in music and making music for commercials, the pair released their self-titled EP in June of 2011 on their own record label, Lazy Hooks. A year later, the duo signed on with Capital Records in order to create their first album, In A Tidal Wave of Mystery, which came out on June 4th, 2013.
Before I start reviewing the album, I would just like to say that In A Tidal Wave of Mystery has to have the coolest album artwork of any album that I'm going to review this year, or in that matter, any album I may ever review. I mean, just look at it! A flying yellow whale, Planet-sized Walrus, astronaut tiger, one hip white elephant, and a hidden octopus all taking place in space has to be one of the coolest selections for album artwork I've ever seen. The artwork was created by João Lauro Fonte, a Brazilian artist who you should definitely check out. He made other artwork for Capital Cities, and is fantastic and very underrated. Seriously, check him out, his artwork is awesome. But without waiting any longer, here's what I think of the album.
Track 1: Safe and Sound
Safe and Sound is the band's biggest hit yet. Hitting number 1 in Germany, and since its inception into the Hot 100 it's only risen higher and higher. This doesn't make me surprised as Safe and Sound is a fantastic way to start off the album, and it is by far the best track on the album. Safe and Sound went through about 10 different forms until it was finished, and Merchant describes the addition of a trumpet as "one of our best decisions on the song." Safe and Sound is amazingly catchy and a fantastic dance jam. Interesting to note that through both videos released by the band for Safe and Sound, that Safe and Sound is sort of an "anti-doomsday song in some ways - expressing the idea that every generation thinks that the end of the world is right around the corner, but it never comes to pass" as described by Merchant. We all think that the world is going to end, but that never happens and we're all safe and sound and should just dance is pretty much the meaning behind Safe and Sound. It's also one of the few songs on the album with an actual meaning, but that's not a bad thing. The trumpet is the real show stealer with Safe and Sound, and as we'll see later, the trumpet gets even funkier and there will be many more instances to dance to. Safe and Sound is pure pop brilliance.
Track 2: Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast
A very eclectic feel surrounds Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast as you realize the meaning behind Patience. It's pretty obvious, Patience tells the listener that you shouldn't just sit around waiting for something to come to you, go out there and make something for yourself! That may be one of the most common messages in songs, but it's a good lesson, and it works well. Capital Cities weren't patient, because they went out there and they made a name for themselves and brought themselves up to making their first album. It's a good lesson and a good song, however it just kind've ends at the end. The opening and the chorus are catchy, albeit not as catchy as Safe and Sound, but sufficient enough for Patience.
Track 3: Kangaroo Court
Kangaroo Court is the second single released by the band after Safe and Sound, and I can see why. There's a nice feel to the song, and it's another dance jam. However, Kangaroo Court has another time-old cliché; the describing a wild party by stating how everyone is acting like an animal. However, as much as I am tired of this cliché, there are still songs that I like that are literally called Animal, and I'm thankful that Capital Cities takes this a step farther; by literally describing what animal everyone is acting like. That animal is a... kangaroo, in fact, this wild party has turned into a wild kangaroo court party. That sounds pretty awesome if I do say so myself. It's nice to see someone once in a while take a spin on an overdone cliché. Plus, there's even more trumpet action, which is always a plus.
Track 4: I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo
What an interesting title and I will say that this opening is fantastic. It gets you into the perfect mood for the rest of this song. It also gives a perfect example of how well Capital Cities is with sound mixing. As for the rest of I Sold, it has a very witty and clever meaning that obviously states that Capital Cities would rather give up what would normally be a necessity to keep their spirit of music alive. Also, I feel that I Sold details a story of perhaps one of the band members scoring a hot date and when they bring them home they come to the shock that there's no bed and this is how they defend their actions. A very funny and witty song, I Sold is perfect to listen to when you want to start blaring out music as you sleep on your floor. Oh, and there's more trumpet action.
Track 5: Center Stage
No, this isn't a reference to the Neil Peart documentary, instead Center Stage is a feel good song about finally living in the life. It's about seizing the moment for your own hands and making the most out of being onstage. Center Stage isn't just restricted about being on the Stage, it's more about being positive about everything you do, sort've like Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast. One of the more ok songs on the albums, but it still succeeds at what it tries to do, and that is give us some more Capital Cities.
Track 6: Farrah Fawcett Hair featuring André 3000 & Shemika Secrest and narrated by Frank Tavares
Well this is a unique one. I don't think I've heard anything like this in a while. Let me just say right now that Farrah Fawcett hair doesn't really mean anything. In fact, it's pretty much just Capital Cities just showing off what they can do with sound mixing, and what can they do? Make a pretty good song as far as I'm concerned. With all of the voices going in and out of the song with people just talking about what they like, it's pretty interesting, but it doesn't really mean much in the end. Like I just said, Farrah Fawcett hair doesn't really mean anything, it's just a cool song with a lot of sound mixing. André 3000 also has a verse, and it's really nice to see him back again. Regarding the song and André 3000, Merchant had this to say, "We went into it with absolutely no rules. We tried to make it the most ridiculous song we possibly could. We had this middle section of the song and we wanted to get one of the most undeniably good rappers on there. We immediately thought of André 3000. I think it appealed to him because of its quirky sensibility." What's interesting about André's verse is that it's once again just a list of things that he likes. That's what this song comes down to, a list of what people like, and for that I would like to add Farrah Fawcett Hair to the list of things that I like.
Track 7: Chartreuse
Color everywhere! As the song practically explains. Color me, color you, color as much as you can, color anything! I honestly don't even know if there's any other meaning to Chartreuse. Chartreuse is pretty much a fun song that I imagine Capital Cities recorded while painting. Chartreuse is more or less ok, but it gives even more trumpet action and that makes me happy.
Track 8: Origami
Origami presents itself as a more romantic track on the album, where the lyrics "I stole your diamonds and gold, what are you going to do?" probably refers to either Merchant or Simonian entering the life of whoever they're with. As for why there's random times where the word "Origami" is shouted, I honestly have no idea. I'm pretty sure that it works a lot more than shouting "Passtraammii" or something like that. Origami may leave me a bit uncertain, but with as much trumpet action that I'm getting I am as pleased as I can be with this song.
Track 9: Lazy Lies
At first thought, it sounds like something the beach boys would make if they used a lot more synths. Lazy Lies sounds a lot like a 2 man version of a beach boys single with more synths. The synths are very pretty and create a nice atmosphere for the song to build itself around, but it never really does that. Lazy Lies just kind've ends the way it starts without amounting much and is more or less a segue to the rest of the album.
Track 10: Tell Me How To Live
Tell Me How To Live at the beginning sounds exactly like Another Brick In The Wall Part 1/ The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Pink Floyd. In fact, if I had to describe Tell Me How To Live it would be a funk-pop-electric version of Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall's bass line. Tell Me How To Live is an ironic title as the chorus exclaims "Ain't nobody gonna tell me how to live." Obviously Tell Me How To Live is exclaiming "I do what I want!" in a non-threatening way and I love it. One of the more funkier songs on the album and a great way to express your self-freedom, Tell Me How To Live is catchy, enjoyable, and funky.
Track 11: Chasing You featuring Soseh
Chasing You starts off as what an 80's arcade game would sound like when you thrust another quarter in to get an extra set of lives. Chasing You sounds like what would be a stalker fantasy, but in the song the pursuer wanders into the person he's chasing and has no idea what to do when he does confront her. Also, Soseh has a beautiful voice and tells him straight up that she's running too, but not away from the Capital Cities, no, quite the opposite really. In fact, Chasing You is a story of two people chasing each other until they find one another. Chasing You reminds me a lot of the movie Amélie, where both Amélie and Nino are looking for each other and when they do find each other they just don't know what to do. Chasing You is one of the few tracks on In A Tidal Wave of Mystery that details a story and I'd like to see what more story-telling Capital Cities can bring us in the future.
Track 12: Love Away
Love Away is a pretty upbeat song on a pretty upbeat album. Love Away is a romantic version of Safe and Sound to put it bluntly. Love Away is also taking a look at past upsets and ignoring them to embrace what you have now and in the future. Love Away is an ok end to a pretty decent album.
In A Tidal Wave of Mystery is the very first album for Capital Cities, and as such, does what an artist's first album should accomplish. That is getting the listener prepared for what the artist will bring in the future, and with that being said, I really enjoyed In A Tidal Wave of Mystery. Here's to the future, Capital Cities, and to you too, Lauro Fonte, because if it wasn't for Capital Cities, I wouldn't have been introduced to your amazing artwork. In A Tidal Wave of Mystery succeeds at both being enjoyable and preparing the listener for the future of their work. Here's to a bright future, Capital Cities!
Verdict: In A Tidal Wave of Mystery is fun, memorable, upbeat, retro even, and is a nice taste of what is hopefully yet to come from the duo of Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian that is Capital Cities. Final Score: 7/10.
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