Men, Women, And Children - Men, Women, and Children
Rating
RIYL
The SoundsThe Music
Cibo Matto
The Hives
Tracklist
1. Dance In My Blood2. Lightning Strikes Twice In New York
3. Photosynthesis (We’re Losing O2)
4. Who Found Mister Fabulous?
5. Messy
6. At Night I Like To Fight
7. Monkey Monkee Men
8. Time For The Future (Bang Bang)
9. The Name Of The Train Is The Hurricane
10. Celebracion
11. Sell Your Money
12. Vowels
Users RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Men, Women and Children have released the first great record of 2006. No other album this year thus far competes in attitude, energy, production, originality, quality and fun.
Picture a mid-70s disco club. Picture a club pulsating with people, dancing, snorting coke, sipping cocktails and smiling. Everyone looks good, and platform shoes are a prerequisite to get in the door. Bright, vibrant lights shoot in every direction and blur your vision so that all you see are spots of color, and the mathematical formations of figures under a disco ball. If this scene were real, the music over the speakers would be the songs from Men, Women and Children’s self-titled debut.
The album opens with “Dance in my Blood,” with the line “You don’t need a reason / To get out on the dance floor,” a simple, effective lyric that perfectly sets the tone for the remainder of the album. “Dance in my Blood” is the epitome of what a club hit should be: driving, rhythmic, and with an epic, irresistible chorus. Following is “Lighting Strikes Twice” which turns the album up to eleven with gorgeous harmonies, incredible production, a catchy refrain, and a climax that rivals the best orgasm you’ve ever had. If these guys can deliver live what they deliver on record, watch out America!
In a unique way, Men, Women and Children live up to the name: their music transcends gender and age demographics. A 13-year-old girl who adores Kelly Clarkson would probably find “The Name of the Train is Hurricane” appealing in silly way; Modest Mouse loving indie assholes will enjoy “Messy” and “A Night I Like to Fight”; Mike Patton fans will dig “Time for the Future”; and Cibo Matto fans would probably like “Photosynthesis.” This is not to say, however, the songs are segregated and that each deserve their own audience. File this album under your music-to-play-at-parties section, and no matter who attends you’re guaranteed to bring the house down.
Singer TJ Penzone sounds something in-between The Music’s Rob Harvey, Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb and The Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears – especially in “Who Found Mr. Fabluous?” where Penzone borrows melodies from the Sisters’ “Filthy/Gorgeous.” (The two choruses in these two songs sound identical.) Penzone’s voice possesses elements of style and ability that make most rock singers great: he’s diverse, his range is wide and isn’t afraid to hide himself behind a wall of effects. The rest of this band each contribute to the sound equally, and it’s my guess their writing process is both organic and equal-in-say.
2006 is looking to be a great year for new releases, especially from many seasoned heavy-hitters, but with releases like this one this year could very well belong to newbies looking to make their mark.
Men, Women and Children are simultaneously a look into the past and a glance at where electro-pop is headed. The production on this album is incredible, every song is unique and catchy, and you’d be hard-pressed to name any release within the last five years that compares in originality. Buy this album now. Don’t be a square.
--Brent S. White
Comments
Columbus, Ohio
Recommending: Anberlin, Interpol, Chamberlain, House of Heroes
Cleveland, OH
Scene Point Blank / Escapist Records
SCV, CA
Best Buy didn't have any copies of this yesterday and Tower Records only had 3 copies and they werent even out on the floor... Reprise is kind of screwing them over if thats all the units that are shipped out.
That said, I really enjoy this album.
The Great North Woods
Darla Farmer
RIYL:
the Beatles
Tom Waits
Murder By Death
A Whisper in the Noise
the Blood Brothers
Chicago
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
Columbus, Ohio
Recommending: Anberlin, Interpol, Chamberlain, House of Heroes
Chicago
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
Chicago
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
brightblack morning light
5/10
My website
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
Charleston, SC
on francis the mute i'll agree with you but i'm not going to give you that on deloused
Chicago
i know, but i keep trying.
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
Fort Bragg, CA
Chicago
Columbus, Ohio
Recommending: Anberlin, Interpol, Chamberlain, House of Heroes
Chicago
St. Paul, MN
Anytown USA
It was homage to his Cave In review.
You play to win the game.
Maine
is this the only album you have listened to this year?
Chrissy: Right, right. So Tuesday, March 21st is the big day! Your record comes out! Do you have anything else you want to add?
Todd: Everyone, we're not shipping a ton of albums at first, we're just getting our name out there and ask every record store, if you don't see it at a record store, ask them to order it. Demand it. Because I mean it's probably only gonna be in one's and two's at the bigger chains
Chrissy: right
Todd: But by May, we're gonna go harder, and if you live in Wisconsin or Iowa, it might NOT be in every store, you know what I mean...like people would think it would be because it's Warner Bros.
Chrissy: ahem, not necessarily!
Todd: right not necessarily at all. It costs alot of money to ship and not everyone knows who we are yet, so we're just touring and getting as many records as we can out there, so that's the number one thing, everyone just go to every record store, go and ask.
Chrissy: demand it!
Todd: right because if the label see's kids are asking for it and places are ordering it on their own merit, then that's the best thing. That helps us more than record sales even.
http://www.headautomatica.net/mwcinterview.html
Chicago
no
Atascadero, CA
dont worry bout ol Leahy, he's still got his panties in a bunch cuz of your Cave In review.. god forbid the best band in the world gets a bad review.
Decoymusic.com (CEO/Founder)
Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
http://aarontroy.tumblr.com