Tanlines' sound is more mature, aged and slicked back than ever before. Even though this isn't the fireworks I was anticipating, The Big Mess is a surprising return that's inviting and it's interesting to see where the duo are at personally and musically.
Tanlines... Tanlines... Tanlines. Does that ring a bell? No...? I'll gladly fill you in! Tanlines are a Brooklyn-based duo featuring Eric Emm on lead vocals and Jesse Cohen. They've been at it since the late 2000's and were a part of the flavorful boom of indie rock, pop and electronica that was coming out of the Brooklyn scene during the time. Although they may not be the group that is the most remembered out of that scene, they still have some very loyal fans out of that era including myself. I remember when they dropped their debut album Mixed Emotions in 2012. It was full of bangers then and it still sounds like it today: classic pop, new wave, and rock embellishments all wrapped around vintage synthesizers and guitars matched with Eric Emm's crooning vocals reminiscent of a long forgotten 80's new wave group. It scratched a certain itch folks had in 2012 and three years later, they released a follow up titled Highlights. It certainly lived up to its title. Highlights is a solid follow up that definitely has memorable highlights like "Palace," "Pieces," and "Slipping Away" but in retrospect, it's pretty much a watered down, predictable sequel that didn't offer much new or exciting but rather just more of the same.
They've been extremely quiet over the past (checks watch) eight years since their last album. They released a cutesy EP in 2018 called Presents that features children classics like "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider." It's for the fans' children more so than the fans themselves... but I guess at least it was something. This leads to The Big Mess, the new album from Tanlines and the band's third. Now newly signed with the indie heavyweights Merge Records now instead of NYC's True Panther Records, Cohen and Emm are different people than they once were a decade ago. They've grown older, they're fathers, and they live a ways from one another across the country. Also the musical landscape has notably changed since. The Brooklyn electronic scene that was once vibrant and alive is now pretty much dead (RIP).
This marks The Big Mess as a turning point for the duo. The two's sound is more mature, aged and slicked back than ever before. There's less of an electronic edge and more of a pop and rock focus. I've seen the infamous "dad rock" term being floated around this record and I can definitely see why. That may be a big red flag to some but this isn't really to me. They've fully embraced this sound and aesthetic and it's a genuine ode to the vintage stylings of 80's era rock and pop. And why not, right? The two are definitely at that point in their personal lives and career where this really makes sense for Tanlines. I'd rather see a change of pace than Tanlines attempting to rehash their older sound once again. So how does The Big Mess turn out on record? Well, there's definitely things I appreciate about it and there are elements that are reminiscent of why I loved Tanlines in the first place. The hooks are sharp, the synths are bubbly, and Eric Emm's vocals are still a genuine callback to 80's pop radio. "Outer Banks," the album's lead single, is certainly a return to form with its anthemic chorus and melodies and a soundtrack to an inspirational compilation directly released on VHS. "Burns Effect" has dreamy acoustic guitars and electric guitars in harmony and is the definition of "slick." Another highlight includes "Clouds," which features some shimmering guitars and electronics that are as sunlit at the morning sky peering out of the clouds.
The duo have always taken nostalgia and put their own spin on it and this time they really dive head first into it. Much of the guitar riffs, melodies, and choruses are taken even more directly from the 80's pop, rock and new wave playbook. They're enjoyable but can sometimes venture into a dated style that I'm just not really interested in. It can act like background music and less like the foreground they're trying to evoke like on "New Reality" or the title track. The group also sounds more laid back and mellow this time around with less explosive or upbeat songs than usual. They can make some pretty ballads but many of them (and the majority of the track list in general) kind of meld together for me. In one ear and out the other. I appreciate The Big Mess for what it is. I'm super happy that Tanlines decided to return with a new record. I honestly didn't think we'd ever get any more music from them, so the fact that they've actually come back with something new is great, let alone something different. Even though this isn't the fireworks I was anticipating, The Big Mess is a surprising return that's inviting and it's interesting to see where Emm and Cohen are at personally and musically.
My Rating: 6 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Outer Banks," "Clouds," "Burns Effect," "Endless Love"
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