Foster the People’s second album, Supermodel, was released today, March 18, 2014.
Supermodel is a bit different from the band’s previous album, Torches. It focuses more on the lyrics instead of the cool groovy beats that fans fell in love with on “Pumped Up Kicks” and “Call It What You Want.”
The first single from this album is called “Coming of Age,” which also happens to be the last song to be written for Supermodel.
When it came out in January, I was not impressed. Therefore, I wasn’t too excited about the release of the album today.
However, I decided to listen to the album anyway, and although I don’t completely hate it, I don’t exactly love it.
“Ask Yourself” and “Goats in Trees” are based heavily on acoustic guitar, making them sound very indie-folk.
The weirdest songs on the album are “Pseudologia Fantastica” and “A Beginner’s Guide to Destroying the Moon.” “Pseudologia Fantastica” features distorted vocals in the intro, which completely killed my vibe for the track. “A Beginner’s Guide to Destroying the Moon” is a crazy mix of loud unruly electric guitar and a broken record-sounding intro, which might come across as quite jarring to the average listener.
“The Angelic Welcome of Mr. Jones” is a short sample of the band’s perfect discordant harmonic abilities.
“The Truth” has some amazing lyrics, including my favorite line, “A purpose is needed before you know that you know / To never wonder what you are / And not forget where you’ve come from.”
Perhaps the most heartfelt song on Supermodel is “Fire Escape,” a very gloomy, stripped-down track. I love the part where Mark Foster sings,
I see the seasons change
All the young faces come and replaces the dying marks
Sit out on Lexington and Vine
All the pimps and prostitutes wave you down at stopping signs
Save yourself, save your yourself, yourself
Save yourself, save yourself.
My favorite’s on the album are “Are You What You Want to Be?,” “Nevermind” and “Best Friend.” I love the electric guitar chord progression in “Are You What You Want to Be?” The track “Nevermind” features a psychedelic repeated acoustic guitar melody coupled with soft vocals that play on the ear nicely. “Best Friend” is probably the closest you’ll get to the band’s old sound, with its groovy bass guitar and horns.
Supermodel is definitely a new spin on the band’s sound as compared to Torches, but fans might grow to like it.
The Whisper Box 
Leave a Reply