If you’ve been reading our posts for awhile, you may remember one my first reviews: Passion Pit’s EP entitled Chunk of Change. Well back in May, the band followed it up with Manners, an ambitious full-length filled with great melodies, even greater beats and Michael Angelakos’ trademark falsetto.
The band stays true to their roots in their debut while at the same time adding much more layers, which makes for an incredible listening experience. For instance, the album’s third track, “Moth’s Wings”, is an amazing example of layer after layer of soothing-yet-moves-bustin’ music. The chorus just floods your ears with synthesized drums, chimes, bells, whistles, doohickeys and whatchamacallits. Here’s a rather entertaining video for not being an official one:
Other highlights include: “Little Secrets”, “The Reeling”, “Swimming in the Flood”, “Sleepyhead” and “Let Your Love Grow Tall.”
“Little Secrets” is probably the second best dance track on this album. It starts with some wavy synths and then makes way to deep synths and light cowbell tapping. When Angelakos’ voice kicks in, so does the drum beat and you’re instantly hooked. I’m such a big sucker for kid choirs’ so the “higher and higher and higher, higher and higher and higher” sung by a mini-gang is definitely my favorite part.
Remember when I said “Little Secrets” was the second best dance track on this album? Well, here’s the best one: “The Reeling”. This song also serves as the album’s first single. The quick, wavy synths making their intro before the drum and hi-hat beat is freakin’ awesome! And can you say “more kid choir”? Oh yeah, this one’s got it too! This is definitely the track I put on when I’m getting ready for a night out on the town. You know, that track you put on when you’re hyping yourself up? This is mine and I seriously can’t get enough!
“Swimming in the Flood” is a nice change of pace from the dance-inducing tracks, but not in a bad way at all. There are some moody strings layered together for the first half minute of the song but then some deep beats and light piano chime in. Passion Pit play the theme of water well by providing some echoes and deep tones that make you think of swimming in the deep and endless abyss of the ocean.
Since “Sleepyhead” was the single for Chunk of Change (not to mention a ridiculously catchy song), the band opted to throw it on Manners as well. Smart move, I say. The beat is great and goes great with the (super)falsettos. But since I’ve already talked about this song in the Chunk of Change review, let’s move on to “Let Your Love Grow Tall”.
Not the greatest song on the album, “Let Your Love Grow Tall” is definitely still a highlight. Just reading the title tells you that Angelakos has still got that incredible heart that he had on his sleeve throughout all of Chunk of Change (an EP he wrote entirely for his girlfriend). And what’s that? More kid choirs, you say? Well I’m all for it! When I first heard this song, I was walking home from school during sunset. I had just finished taking some of my last finals … ever! Hearing this song and experiencing it together with the sunset and the feeling of great accomplishment gave me an overwhelming feeling of well-being. It was one of those feelings that made you feel so alive and so beautiful. I’m not sure if it will have that same affect on you, but it just goes to show that music isn’t just something to listen to; it’s something to experience.
Passion Pit definitely put out an incredible effort with their debut, Manners. I even got my entire family into this band and you really need to do the same!
Passion Pit – “The Reeling”
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