Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Post date: Jul 10, 2011 7:6:10 AM

James Mercer + Danger Mouse = Something special - 10/10

Top tracks: "The High Road", "Vaporize", "The Ghost Inside" although all 10 are fantastic

Best lyrics: "It's too late to change your mind/You let loss be your guide"

What do you get when you cross "The Shins" lead singer James Mercer and Danger Mouse? An experience which is quite possibly one of the best albums ever. The album starts out with the fantastic "The High Road" and continues on to gain a perfect 10 by not letting up at any stage, everything on this album is here for a reason. Transcending a few genres (Alt Rock, Indie Rock, Space Rock) it's sounds familiar yet new at the same time, each song different yet not out of place. At times they channel "The Beach Boys" and you think you've slipped into some 60's time warp but it all somehow feels right (Track 3, Your Head is on Fire in particular).

At times it does feel like the two are fighting for creative influence but the end result is a beautiful balance between their two styles. Quite a few of these tracks wouldn't feel out of place on a Gorillaz album nor a Shins album

If you've had a passing interest in The Gorillaz or The Shins you need to get this album now as it's far better than either group has produced (and they've both had some great albums). If you like either of them why don't you have this already? I cannot recommend this album highly enough, you're bound to like at least a few songs on the first listen and it simply grows from strength to strength with repeated listens. I've had this on my playlist for over a year and it sounds better today than it ever has before.