album of the week: 6.2

Club 8

The People's Record

Labrador (2010)

why you'll love it: Instantly catchy, a bit different kind of pop sound from the norm

why you'll hate it: big departure from old sound

2010's Most Improved Band award is closed. Club 8 has already won. The longstanding Labrador records duo has had a respectable discography so far, with its serious and introverted songwriting. It's mostly my Swedish pop fixation that has kept me coming back to them so many times. I'll straight up admit fault; I've always found them to be a bit boring. I don't relate to their hopeless romantic lyrics, and have trouble telling most of their catalogue apart.

Without a single hint of warning, The People's Record feels like a completely different band. If this was a lousy romcom film, this album would be the big party scene where the shy character gets drunk and dances up a storm. This is a straight up summer pop album, with aloof lyrics, saccharine melodies, and positive vibes from start to finish. This may feel like a stab in the back to traditional fans, but I couldn't be happier with it. I was sort of expecting Acid House Kings (which Club 8 is a sort of side project of) to do something like this, but never this outfit.

Unlocking that Swedish pop music gene that I'm absolutely certain exists would be enough to make this album a winner, but Club 8 takes it an extra step. They focused on a particular pop sound here; a very South American feel, with lots of percussion and a distinct guitar playing style. It's quite fresh, and performed creatively enough so that it never comes off as gimmicky or shallow. Also, it's only 10 tracks / 30 minutes, so it doesn't overstay its welcome.

I wonder how long Club 8 has been sitting on a record like this. Is this album their way of saying "Yeah, we could have done this kind of stuff all along, but never wanted to?" I'd love to read about the moment of realization where they decided to go down such a different path. This is the perfect summertime album. If you like pop music at all, The People's Record absolutely cannot be ignored.