On Blonde

Pretty guitar swells, straight ahead 80's pop with synth elements, becomes visceral on tracks 3, 7. 9 Not always groundbreaking but solid, has a sweet and familiar feel, reminds me overall of Nada Surf crossed with heavy 80's textures. Will grow on me. Very fun!
FCC on 3 according to the band. Fave tracks: 10, 6, 5, 4, 3

1. Driving poprock, swirly synths reminds me of the Cars in a way.
2. More laid-back beat, bass groove, mid-tempo with jangle moments, has 80's feel like Men At Work, a minute too long, kinda gets boring.
**FCC 3. Jangly summery guitar driven (Smith-like influences) walk about bass & fast vocals, sets an exciting "let's go out" feeling.
**4. Swaggering thick-cut fuzzed guitar, melodic vocals, handclaps, cool "ice" keyboard. Pub dance floor.
***5. Smooth 80's style pop compete with "string" sounds on the keyboards, and 80's drumbeat and lyrics like "our eyes are an ocean." Still it's well-done and fun, goes places.
***6. Soft vocal melodies with light accompaniment. Picks up a minute in with fuller band sound and lightens at 2 minute mark.
**7. Starts with a drumroll and we are away on a walk, visceral feeling.
8. Heavier feel, electro with chimes. Very 80's reminds me of the band Berlin musically, until it kicks it up a notch around 3 min mark.
***9. Thumping upbeat, 80's arrangement with guitar/bass. Hella Hella Hella early 80's, you have to laugh. It's infectious and still good.
*****10. I'm a sucker for these awesome 80's baselines with the percussive textures on top. Really fun laid-back yet infectious track!