While that edgy-pop feel isn’t lost on The Naked and Famous's newest album, the sentiment has certainly changed. The new album's lead single, 'Hearts Like Ours,' pulses with a different kind of energy. Backed by piano-driven power chords, lyrics like “could we try to reinvent” attest to a rebirth of sound. This bravery has resulted in a production that is cleaner and less hectic, making each song vividly distinct.
True to this clearer approach to production, the album features more acoustic and almost folk-like elements, as showcased on opening track 'A Stillness.' Alisa’s initial drone-like vocals, set against the sharper rhythmic guitar chords, make for an interesting mix. But subtle nuances of machine-like noise become increasingly audible and suddenly the song seems to deconstruct itself, drawing in some MGMT-like chaos.
The Naked and Famous's newest album does not exclusively feature their talent for synthesized electronic manipulation. The electronic processing is much more subtle and the resulting effect is stronger. The use of distortion in the ending passages of the band’s title track, 'Like Rolling Waves,' is barely discernible, but its presence affirms that the band has not lost their psychedelic origins. The band also proves their flexibility in 'The Waltz,' where Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith emulate The xx with a duet over a minimalist background. The outcome is an infectious looping of soothing vocals paired with surges of light, bell-toned synths. Another definite hit is 'I Kill Giants,' a synth-pop tune that could very well be their next dance floor anthem. Once again, with producer Thom Powers, the band seems to have mastered the art of building striking layers of melodies.
It does seem, however, that by trying to divert from its previously rebellious nature, the band has lost some of the spunk that differentiated "Passive Me, Aggressive You" from the other alternative and electronic music that emerged at the same time. But then again, many bands evolve at some point to survive. And on "Like Rolling Waves," The Naked and Famous have transformed quite successfully.
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