Two Door Cinema Club - "Beacon"

Artist: Two Door Cinema Club  

Album: Beacon

Label: Glassnote

Release Date: September 4^th, 2012

Review by: Sean Kayden

     “Tourist History” was a buoyant, lively, and stunning debut from the young Irish band, Two Door Cinema Club. The band garnered praise from both supporters and most critics to make the transformation from under-the-radar players to full fledge all-stars. Now nearly two and a half years later, the three-piece pop-rock band find themselves trying to reinvigorate their 2010 sound. It pains me to say that after a solid introduction, Two Door Cinema Club can’t figure out which direction to head. While the listener may enjoy some pit stops along the way, ultimately, their second LP is an aimless exploration that’s sorely unrewarding.  Maybe it’s the sonically polished, yet tiresome pop sound that merely just doesn’t do it for me anymore. Whatever the case may be, “Beacon” is the epitome of the sophomore slump.

     The reason why this effort seems to wander and be disoriented is the sheer fact that the band has stated how “Beacon” begins where “Tourist History” left off. Instead of a brand new story, we’re just getting another chapter of the same old narrative. At just shy of forty minutes, the record is relatively short, but feels lengthy because some songs are simply flaccid. Despite some heavy emptiness, there is the occasional song or two that has you remembering just why you were a fan of Two Door Cinema Club in the first place. One of these songs is “Settle,” a slower and more heartfelt song for a band with a partiality to frenzy type arrangements. “Settle” is a rare song off “Beacon” that demonstrates the group’s artistic talents aren’t simply one-dimensional, but dynamic and multifarious. Following in tone as well as track order is, “Spring.” The aforementioned tune is another lovely and mellower resonance. If only Two Door Cinema Club had more songs like these then maybe this new album as a whole would be completely fulfilling. The first single, “Sleep Alone” sounds like something off “Tourist History” but it’s immediately amicable. “Next Year” is another track that bares strong similarity to the band’s first album. There’s much to enjoy with its catchy riffs and its impeccable way of being so smooth and jovial. However, it’s one more reincarnation of something off of “Tourist History.” In essence, you like it on one hand, but soon realize the best songs are just retreading the same ground already planted two years ago.

     

     The problem with many of the other tracks such as “Wake Up,” “Sun,” and “Beacon” is how formulaic they are. There’s no “it” factor that separates these songs from the other tracks or songs from different bands competing in this congested genre. I came away discovering that Two Door Cinema Club may benefit much more with songs that are a bit dreamier and that slowly transition from mellow to fast-paced then back to a nice calm state. As far as themes go, you have the typical subjects like remaining optimistic despite heartbreak. While the songs remain mostly upbeat and positive throughout, there are shades of darkness in lyrical choices. Two Door Cinema Club are a fine band, but in the end, they didn’t accomplish all that much to put them leaps and bounds above the competition. Unfortunately, with “Beacon” the band sounds like they’re imitating the imitators.

Grade: 6.3 out of 10

Key Tracks: “Sleep Alone”, “Settle”, “Spring”

Published by Mountain Views News on September 22nd, 2012
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n38/p11.htm