Listening to Spreading Rumours, the new album by Grouplove, really illustrates the role that impartiality plays in reviewing an album. There is nothing overtly bad about it, but I find it incredibly annoying. I should admit that before we get started. At its best, it’s (very generously) an infectious sonic smorgasbord, but at its worst, it’s an infuriating collection of cute-pop diddies. There is no middle ground.
Grouplove are a talented bunch, and they know exactly who they are. They play catchy, shallow music, and they've become immensely popular by doing so. You may remember “Tongue Tied” from a few years ago – they played it a few times on the radio, I think. It was a new, fresh sound, and the song really took off. Unfortunately, there is nothing new or fresh on Spreading Rumours.
I've been listening to Spreading Rumors for about two days, which basically means that this review is a crapshoot. But it’s not a very exciting album. It's like if Foster The People and Fun. tried to record an album and things didn't go so well. By this I mean that it's cute and quirky likeSome Nights, but nobody in Grouplove can sing like Nate Ruess, and the music isn’t as infectious as Torches.
The back-and-forth style of singing on Spreading Rumours conjures up images of a harmonic game of tag. I don't particularly like it, which is strange, because I particularly like Of Monsters and Men and the entire My Head is an Animal album is also a harmonic game of tag. The difference, maybe, is that My Head is an Animal is an especially harmonic game of tag, played in a quiet meadow, whereas Spreading Rumours is an especially irritating game of tag, played blindfolded, inside a Whole Foods.
But before this officially becomes a discussion of a popular schoolyard game, and before I forget that this is supposed to be an actual review of an actual album, let me say this: if this album is playing at a place where I’m supposed to be dancing, I will probably get down. I just won’t ask who it is. The blend of hard-rock and synth-pop on the curiously-named second track, "Borderlines and Aliens," is as contagious as the common cold. But it’s no “Tongue Tied.”
You may argue with me here, and certainly, popularity does not imply quality. And of course, there will be groups of people who love this album. But Grouplove, at least with Spreading Rumours, aren't trying to put one over on us. What you hear is what they are. And what you hear is a band with an exceptional set of skills, playing cute-music that belies their actual talent. The tenth track, "Didn't Have To Go," is a good example. The beat is sick, and the combination of back-and-forth and multi-layered vocals is a nice touch, but the chorus consists of the line "You didn't have to goooo," being repeated over and over, and that’s exactly what I want to do. I want to go. I want to go someplace where this album is no longer playing.
Grade: C-
Grade: C-
I've never heard of this band, but I'm a fan of negative reviews.
Fuck music!