album of the week: 5.5

!!!
THR!!!ER
(2013)

why you'll love it:  perfect summer album.  can be enjoyed almost anywhere
why you'll hate it:  Not as cutting-edge as previous albums 

Too cool for words.   Literally.

!!! has been making indie dance disco punk for over ten years, with varying degrees of success.  Their first two albums contain just as much groove as spitfire.  "Pardon My Freedom" and "Intensify" are two of my favorite raucous dance songs ever.  They're one of the few bands that hasn't lost a step or harbored any ill-will as they gained popularity and drifted away from an agressive lyrical style.  2007's Myth Takes is both their most commercially successful release, and the general fan favorite.  Strange Weather, Isn't it? (2010)  saw the band at a bit of a creative block, but the album was a grower.

THR!!!ER sees the band falling back on a more traditional dance club groove.  There are a lot more in studio effects on this album, and more focus on just letting a rhythm breathe and play out.  "One Girl / One Boy" may be !!!'s most cliche disco song, but becoming one of my favorites.  If anything, THR!!!ER is proving that !!! doesn't need a creative gimmick, or to do anything in a drastically different way to stand out.  Their ability to craft a cool, groovy, and memorable song is seemingly natural.

The DJ mix style of "Slyd" is a standout.  "Californiyeah" is sure to be the new live crowd pleaser.  "Except Death" is the perfect summer house party / BBQ song.  Even songs that don't have some grand hook to them, like "Get That Rhythm Right" and "Careful" are smooth and enjoyable to serve as breathers between big hits.  It doesn't really seem to matter that the only song that sounds like their previous high-engery albums if the closer, "Meet Me At The Station".    

Nine songs at 40 minutes is a great length for this album.  They could have even gotten away with only 8 songs, and this would still be 2013's best summer album, no doubt.