Metronomy's seventh album Small World has a direct approach on love, happiness, and a positive outlook on life. Over two decades strong, the UK band is still continuing to share great pop songs that will make you move, make you happy, and make you forget about the current state of our world for just a bit. Honestly, what more can you want right now?
Metronomy is an English-based electronic and pop band founded and fronted by Joseph Mount. What started out as a bedroom electronic project in 1999 transformed into a full band years down the road with excellent records like Nights Out in 2008. A few years later, the band went for a tropical, light and airy indie electro pop on The English Riviera. Still a great record now ten years down the road, it was my initial introduction to the band and was one of the first albums I ever got into. After the swerve into 60's pop and rock on Love Letters, which I really enjoyed, I fell off the wagon after that and didn't follow through checking out their next two records: Summer 08 in 2016 and Metronomy Forever in 2019. You follow a band for a while, then your interests change, you listen to other things instead, you get too busy, some albums fall behind. Things happen, you know? No hard feelings guys! I hope I can make it up to you because I have now checked out the newest album from Metronomy. Small World, the band's seventh studio album, really hones in on indie pop and vintage pop and rock from the 60's and 70's. You know, real Metronomy sounding stuff but minus a lot of the electronica that put them on the map earlier in their career.
What's different about this album though compared to the others is Small World's direct approach on love, happiness, and a positive outlook on life, both thematically and sonically. It's definitely viewed a response to all the tragedy and loss through the pandemic by sharing these outgoing, sweet, and catchy pop tunes to get the listener through the day. I've noticed many artists responding to all the negativity we've been seeing in this world in recent years with this positive, bright, and fun vibe and I can totally understand why. Why would I want to listen to some dark, isolating, and depressing stuff when I can dance my heart out to some happy and bright pop music during these trying times? The answer isn't always yes, but I can assure you I've been wanting to listen to much more positive and bright music recently than ever before (this is the reason why I haven't listened to Father John Misty's Pure Comedy in years). "Things Will Be Fine" is a simple 80's influenced pop rock tune that assures the listener that everything will work out for you and there's no need to worry. Its instrumental and Mount's relaxed vocal delivery seem to be a bit too straightforward and general to be as effective as they'd like the song to be, but it's still enjoyable nonetheless. "Life and Death" is a stark and beautiful piano ballad with its simplicity being a plus this time.
"It's Good to Be Back" features some of the familiar electronics Metronomy fans know and love, this time backing an acoustic guitar fronted pop tune. It's another sticky and undeniable pop song, this time about gratefulness and enjoying life at its fullest. "Love Factory" is a sweetly sung dreamy tune with vocal harmonies coming straight out of the 60's. It catapults the listener straight up in the clouds, floating up into a dreamlike state. "Right on Time" is another love lusted tune with a lovely groove and bouncy chorus. This one's definitely a banger and it's for sure my favorite on the album. Put this on your Summer 2022 playlist... stat! "Hold Me Tonight" features vocals from newer UK band Porridge Radio to add some variety in the vocal side of things. It's another tune that's solid but its simplicity and straightforwardness in the instrumental is a bit too general for me to make a lasting impact.
The rest of the songs I didn't mention are mostly slow burning ballads that don't reach out at me the same way that the others from the album do. They're not necessarily bad by any means but they just kind of fall a bit flat for me due to either being too bare instrumentally or not having gripping enough writing or vocals. I do think Small World is a nice change of pace for the band with vibrant instrumentals and I appreciate the outgoing and positive themes in response to all the dark and crazy things in the world that we live in. It's got a quick runtime at 35 minutes and it is perfect for hitting repeat for those sticky melodies and catchy choruses. Sure, I didn't love all of the songs on the album but I think Metronomy is still going strong after (checks wikipedia) over 20 years and they are still continuing to share great pop songs that will make you move, make you happy, and make you forget about the current state of our world for just a bit. Honestly, what more can you want right now?
My Rating: 7 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Right on Time," "It's Good to Be Back," "Love Factory," "Life and Death"
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