Columbia - Startime Records
Mark Foster - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Programming, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Percussion
Mark Pontius - Drums, Extra Percussion
Cubbie Fink - Bass, Vocals
Produced by Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, Rich Costey, Tony Hoffer and Mark Foster
This time I'm reviewing one of the highest rated albums of the year- Foster the People "Torches". Their first hit, Pumped Up Kicks lead them straight to the top of the charts with its smooth sounds, catchy chorus and dark lyrics based off of a Truman Capote book. Since then, they've been huge everywhere even though they sound just like a Swedish band called Peter, Bjorn & John, which from now on I'll refer to as PB&J.
Helena Beat
This song sounds like it could easily be by MGMT, which caused me to think it was them until I got my hands on this album. It's one of the strongest songs on the album and it's one of a group of songs by this band that I prefer as an overall genre that they fit into. I would like them a lot more if they had this sound more often instead of sounding like PB&J. It's catchy, has an awesome chorus and satisfies my love of synthesizers quite well.
Pumped Up Kicks
Easily the most famous song off of this album, this song was based off part of a book by Truman Capote, which you read above. It's also the song that sounds the most like PB&J. It has an catchy chorus, great bass lines and just an overall smooth sound. However, when you're forced to listen to it as often as I am, with it played on every radio station a ridiculous amount of times, it stops being appealing.
Call It What You Want
Now this song sounds like it would've been huge in the late 80s, mixing that turntable sound with awesome piano riffs and it just has an awesome dance feel and chorus. No complaints at all from this song. It's one of the strongest songs they have.
Don't Stop(Color On the Walls)
Another song that sounds very PB&J-esque. It starts off with acoustic guitar, and I'm pretty sure I've heard it on a commercial or two. In fact, I have. It was used in two Nissan commercials. It has a pretty good chorus and has a sound that feels like it's rocking back and forth. Not like rocking, I mean like the motion of rocking.
Waste
This song sounds more like a Coldplay song than anything else, to be honest. It just has their type of sound. It's one of two groups of songs this band seems to have- slower, smoother songs with good choruses(I'll refer to as group 1)and then the higher energy, more synth heavy electronica songs that I like more(group 2). This is definitely in group 1.
I Would Do Anything for You
This is my favorite song from group 1. It's actually my favorite song of theirs period. It has the best chorus, the best verses, it's just an overall strong, steady song. I love it. If you listen, you can hear piano riffs that sound like they're from Call It What You Want.
Houdini
A good addition to group 2, this is another song that really, really, REALLY sounds like it's a MGMT song. Overall good song, good chorus, good verses.
Life on the Nickel
This song is another that sounds like Call It What You Want. Mark Foster's voice kind of goes back in forth between high and low in the song, which actually works for the song. Sub-par chorus overall, but it's a good song.
Miss You
One of the best songs on the album, and one of the best from group 2. It has a big 90s dance feel to it, and is good for closing the album before the last song.
Warrant
The last song on the album. It closes the album in the best way I've found, has an inspiring feel to it and a truly awesome chorus. I love this song. Not much to say about it other than that, really.
Broken Jaw
The bonus track. It has a funky, synth heavy style that fits their best work. I really wish they would make more songs like this rather than the songs in group 1, but there are few perfect albums in the world. Excellent song.
Grade
7/10
So I know I compared their work to a lot of other bands, but that doesn't mean that they're just ripoffs of everyone else. It's just how I explain their feel. That and they really sound like the examples I gave...Overall a pretty good album, far from the best I've heard this year, but it's their first swing at the business and I'm impressed.
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