2.5/5
On the heels of the UK-born Ting Tings and the Florida-bred Black Kids, the next indie bombshell ‘mdash; probably won’t be Friendly Fires.
Fearing the obscurity-rendering typecast of ‘another British indie band,’ Friendly Fires freaks out a little too much and crams its club-ready anthems chock full of techno garbage and recycled melodies. While the best moments burst with relentless ’80s synth bubbles, hyper-mixed electropop and tons of deep breathing, it’s not surprising that the debut fizzles out at the halfway mark. Innovation quickly takes a back seat to sound-alike grooves that sponge samples of Depeche Mode, Prince, Michael Jackson and more.
Who knew there could be so much file sharing over only 10 tiny tracks? Featured on ‘Gossip Girl,’ ‘White Diamonds’ switches between campy bass-beats from Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’ and hip-shaking riffs from ’80s classic ‘Tainted Love.’ If you’ve heard either of those, listening to Friendly Fires’ ‘inspired’ version ‘mdash; really just a lame remix ‘mdash; is like double deja-vu. Of Wii Fit commercial fame, ‘On Board’ borrows ‘NSync’s falsetto and thrumming bass, as well as Ok Go’s treadmill-ready beats, and ties them with a few measly fuzzy techno blips. Ironically as it’s the most obvious rip-off, of dance-pop gods Jackson and Prince ‘Lovesick’ tells the truth: ‘Everybody else thinks you’re out of touch/ Don’t you think it’s about time you turn the page and move on?’ While honoring your idols is understandable, shameless copycatting only hints at a deeper sickness ‘mdash; a lack of honest songwriting chops.
Technique isn’t the issue here. When Friendly Fires has a fresh idea, its supercharged mixing and raucous enthusiasm promises an instant indie hit. Expect crazed tin-can drumming, epic whispery escalades and light-filled synths on ‘Jump In the Pool,’ or the street-funk playground of bongo drums and maraca shakes on ‘In the Hospital.’ At least for a while, the nearest Urban Outfitters will be playing them just as loud as the rock stars they revere.