Artist: Friendly Fires
Album: Pala
Label: XL Recordings
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Review by: Sean Kayden
If you’re looking for the ultimate estival album to guide you through road trips, summer love, (mis)adventures and anything in between, then look no further. Pala is the sophomore record from Friendly Fires, the sitting-by-poolside-during-the-day-and-dancing-the-night-away driven band hailing from St. Albans. They made quite the buzz with their 2008 self-titled debut album and return to reclaim the throne of the premier summer band. Pala is drenched with beautiful electo-pop melodies that would make any mainstream pop artist envious. Friendly Fires aren’t revolutionizing music, but simply put their signature stamp on the indie-dance-pop genre. These UK boys know exactly how to gravitate the shyest kid in town toward the dance floor. Simply put, they’re creating pop-laden tunes that would even make Justin Timberlake jealous.
Ed Macfarlane’s vocals are a breath of fresh air. The dude can really belt out the lyrics. He embodies such a breezy falsetto that falls somewhere into early 90s pop. You can easily hear the uncanny resemblance to the R&B references from that bygone era. Pala is a fully charged, in your face, 24/7 dance party anthem. However, even the most diehard, full-time partier needs a breather to recharge and that comes in the form of the title track, “Pala”. A smooth, slowdance tune that will still have you bumping and grinding on your girl (or boy). It would have been the ideal closing cap to an album that’s like a rush of blood straight to your head. Instead, the track is only at the halfway point. After that relatively quick breather, you’ll be revitalized to kick-start the second half of this boisterous album.
This is by far, the best pop album of the year. Unfortunately, Pala probably won’t even register with the most ideal conventional listener. Forget any mainstream “entertainer” poisoning this oversaturated genre. This is the one and only hustle & flow, jaunty, and full of life record you’ll need this summer. With memorable tracks like “Blue Cassette”, “Hawaiian Air”, “True Love”, and “Pull Me Back To Earth”, you’ll realize just how much better and more alive Friendly Fires are than any other artist making this type of music. If you want to get down and dirty this summer (and who doesn’t?), then skip over the lameness of Bieber and Gaga and head straight to the dance floor that’s occupied by Friendly Fires. There’s more fire than friendly in this dance rock opera to last you through the final days of summer.
Key Tracks: “Blue Cassette”, “Hawaiian Air”, “True Love”, “Pull Me Back To Earth”
Grade: 8.4 out of 10
Published on June 11th, 2011 by Mountain Views News.
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v05/htm/n24/p11.htm
i AGREE!!
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