Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream Review

Empire of the Sun, one of the many bands to follow the dance/rock/prog style of MGMT, attempt to create their niche in the movement with their debut album, Walking On A Dream. Consisting of Luke Steele (of The Sleepy Jackson) and Nick Littlemore (of Pnau), Empire of the Sun takes a more laid back approach than MGMT, and occasionally recalls the hypnotic melodies of Cut Copy, a comparison helped by the similar vocal style shared by Steele and Cut Copy frontman Dan Whitford. The album starts well with the pleasant "Standing on the Shore" and the album's title track, "Walking on a Dream", the highlight of the album. The album starts to drift away from there, as the repetitive nature of the album reveals itself. "Delta Bay" is a disaster, with pounding drums and oddly distorted vocals, the song does not work in any way possible. "Country" meanders and never hits its mark, which can be said about most songs on the record. Walking on a Dream shows flashes of brilliance, but never puts the pieces together to make something unique, something which Empire of the Sun are capable of.

2 1/2 STARS

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