Foster The People - Music Review
About:
Foster The People is a Indie Pop band from L.A, California. Their group is composed of 3 people, Mark Foster who does the vocals, keyboards, piano, and other various instruments, Cubbie Fink who does the Bass and Backup vocals, and Mark Pontius who uses drum and percussion. The genre of Foster The People's music is various, and contains elements of Indie Rock, Pop, Dance, and even Neo-Psychedlic.
They released only one Studio Album, and that's what I will be reviewing for today.
Major Releases:
Torches(2011)
First Impressions:
If you listen to the radio, chances are you heard of "Pumped Up Kicks", a single from Foster The People that suddenly became extremely successful. The cover art for the CD was designed by Japayork, Mark's friend. From what I see, it show's a bunch of monsters holding torches and one with a flashlight. The style and the way this cover was drawn is very interesting, and the little details details you can barely see on the monsters are well done.
The Review:
The album has 10 songs, is 38:27 in time, and 88.3 MB in size
1.Helena Beat(4:36)- This song has a interesting opening sound that is hard to describe, but it good. At around :56 you hear the vocals kick in. Judging by the lyrics, finding the true meaning for this song, and various theory's can be one. One is that, its about love and recovering. Another is that, its about drugs and emptiness feel it gives. Third, it could be about suicide because of the line "I took a sip of something poison but I'll hold on tight". The song has pretty dark lyrics, but it's so upbeat and happy sounding...-8/10
2.Pumped Up Kicks(4:00)-Foster the people's surprise sleeper hit. Just like Helena Beat, this song has a very upbeat and happy sound to it, but this song has very, very twisted and dark lyrics and meaning(s) behind it. If you go look up the lyrics, it sounds like something out of a horror movie. The song is about being in the mind of a psychotic kid and bringing awareness. Another meaning people make out of this is that it's about it's about Columbine. While that it's not directly about Columbine, it's about a kid who plans on doing a shooting rampage, which is similar to what happened at Columbine High School. This song is a perfect example something that is happy and upbeat but has a dark lyrical atmosphere to it -8.4/10
3.Call It What You Want(4:01)-A very happy, upbeat song. It's about having various atitudes, and judging people. 7/10
4.Don't Stop(Color on the Walls)(2:56)-The happiest, most upbeat, and also the shortest song on the entire album. Judging from the lyrics, this song is about being young. This song is pretty catchy. 7.3/10
5.Waste(3:26)-The song is more on the slower side. It's about a man who is in love, but is suffering from some sort of mental illness. 7.8/10
6.I Would Do Anything For You(3:35)-The song is about falling in love. A song that is very bright and happy in lyrics goes from being slow to mildly-fast, then slow again. Very catchy song. 8/10
7.Houdini(3:24)-This song is very happy and upbeat. I believe it's about being a musician and "focusing on your ability". Being a highlight on the album, this is one of the best songs by Foster The People. 8.3/10
8.Life On the Nickel(3:36)-Has a very interesting opening. The song is about a homeless man or a drug addict who is trying to hustle for money, even though on the album it sounds like he is saying "awesome". A pretty happy song, but it has sort of a sad and down atmosphere to it, or maybe it's just me. -8.2/10
9.Miss You(3:36)-I find it amazing how this has the same length as Life On the Nickel. This song is probably the saddest and least happy song on the album . I believe it's about a man who killed himself with drugs, and he is reflecting on his past, or wanting to see someone before he dies. -7.9/10
10.Warrant(5:22)-The ending to the album starts with this heavenly chanting or humming sound...kind of like something you would hear from a Final Fantasy or Zelda game. These drums then kick in and then the bass, then a piano. The song sounds pretty dramatic(despite being happy). I believe the album is about the downside of being famous. This is a very well made song, and also, in my opinion the best song on the album. -8.5/10
2.Pumped Up Kicks(4:00)-Foster the people's surprise sleeper hit. Just like Helena Beat, this song has a very upbeat and happy sound to it, but this song has very, very twisted and dark lyrics and meaning(s) behind it. If you go look up the lyrics, it sounds like something out of a horror movie. The song is about being in the mind of a psychotic kid and bringing awareness. Another meaning people make out of this is that it's about it's about Columbine. While that it's not directly about Columbine, it's about a kid who plans on doing a shooting rampage, which is similar to what happened at Columbine High School. This song is a perfect example something that is happy and upbeat but has a dark lyrical atmosphere to it -8.4/10
3.Call It What You Want(4:01)-A very happy, upbeat song. It's about having various atitudes, and judging people. 7/10
4.Don't Stop(Color on the Walls)(2:56)-The happiest, most upbeat, and also the shortest song on the entire album. Judging from the lyrics, this song is about being young. This song is pretty catchy. 7.3/10
5.Waste(3:26)-The song is more on the slower side. It's about a man who is in love, but is suffering from some sort of mental illness. 7.8/10
6.I Would Do Anything For You(3:35)-The song is about falling in love. A song that is very bright and happy in lyrics goes from being slow to mildly-fast, then slow again. Very catchy song. 8/10
7.Houdini(3:24)-This song is very happy and upbeat. I believe it's about being a musician and "focusing on your ability". Being a highlight on the album, this is one of the best songs by Foster The People. 8.3/10
8.Life On the Nickel(3:36)-Has a very interesting opening. The song is about a homeless man or a drug addict who is trying to hustle for money, even though on the album it sounds like he is saying "awesome". A pretty happy song, but it has sort of a sad and down atmosphere to it, or maybe it's just me. -8.2/10
9.Miss You(3:36)-I find it amazing how this has the same length as Life On the Nickel. This song is probably the saddest and least happy song on the album . I believe it's about a man who killed himself with drugs, and he is reflecting on his past, or wanting to see someone before he dies. -7.9/10
10.Warrant(5:22)-The ending to the album starts with this heavenly chanting or humming sound...kind of like something you would hear from a Final Fantasy or Zelda game. These drums then kick in and then the bass, then a piano. The song sounds pretty dramatic(despite being happy). I believe the album is about the downside of being famous. This is a very well made song, and also, in my opinion the best song on the album. -8.5/10
Conclusions:
Torches is a very happy, upbeat sounding album that is similar to that of MGMT. Some of the songs have great meaning and a fantastic beat and rhythm to it, however some of the lyrics can be too repetitive. The large variety of instruments and genre's in this album is very interesting. The dark lyrics in happy songs like "Pumped Up Kicks" is also well made. This is a good album, I would definitely recommend someone to give it a try, if you havn't.
Highlights:
1.Helena Beat
2.Pumped Up Kicks
7.Houdini
8.Life On the Nickel
10.Warrant
Highlights:
1.Helena Beat
2.Pumped Up Kicks
7.Houdini
8.Life On the Nickel
10.Warrant
Final Score: 7.9
