Friendly Fires: Pala

Friendly Fires
Pala
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Friendly Fires self-titled debut album was a nice surprise in 2008. Ostensibly an indie-rock/dance record, the album showed the band unfraid to borrow from and update an 80s sound, using banks of glossy synths, dense percussion, and a boat load of thick pop hooks to lure you in. Pala, the follow up, finds Friendly Fires joining Cut Copy in further delving into a broad, 80s sound, with Friendly Fires leaning more to lush pop acts like Heaven 17, Spandau Ballet, Kajagoogoo and the like. Each track is and feels dense, as if one more piece of instrumentation would likely topple the whole thing over. Pala is not a huge reinvention of Friendly Fires' sound, but more of a slight tweaking, which basically means if you liked Friendly Fires, you will most likely feel the same about Pala. The problems with the album go more to the fact that the songs, the majority of which are really good, just don't function more than just a set of songs put together. Nothing really ties them together, which makes for a pleasant, yet not a thrilling, experience.

The album is most successful when it appropriates a late-night, club on the beach party vibe. Lead track and single "Live Those Days Tonight," has a furious percussive bed, which escalates with swirling synths and pianos, turning into an Ibiza banger.



"Running Away," steals off a classical riff on piano, folding into a chiming keyboard punches, and a monster disco groove; while "Hawaiian Air," whizzes and buzzes with odd electronic effects, and is possibly the goofiest song ever written about fear of flying.



"True Love" could have been on an early Spandau Ballet or ABC album. Full of driving, crisp drums, tight rhythm guitars, and slap bass.

Friendly Fires - True Love by kisstiger

Carribean rhythms punctuate the lush "Show Me Lights."



If the rest of the album had stuck to this mood, it would have been a great summer party album. But often, the band ventures into more moody ruminations and stops the feel good vibe.

"Hurting" gets bogged down in squelchy synths and dated 80s electronic percussion.



"Pala" threatens to derail the whole album, a moody and murky track that is all mood and no substance. And "Helpless," which should take the album out on a high note, is just breathy and rushed.



"Blue Cassette," is a notable exception, matching the wistful lyrics with upbeat, soaring dance rock.



And "Chimes," has a nice steady build, the keyboards climbing ever higher.



The minor quibbles with the album are not enough to derail the fact that I like it a lot. The production values are great and the songwriting, for the most part, is strong. I just never felt that these songs went together to tell a story which keeps it from being more than just a good album. But, if you want an album to play with the car windows down, or at a backyard BBQ, Pala is a perfect companion.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.