Written by Hannah Jones.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
The pop rock band Neon Trees released their third album just in time for millennials to start craving a summer soundtrack. “Pop Psychology” isn’t an album for everyone, unfortunately. If you see yourself bopping and tapping to the heavily pop influenced synth music in a dimly lit high school gym with a crowd of pimply teenagers, then this is the album for you. If not, stay away.
Front man Tyler Glenn is known for his infectious and throaty vocals on past albums like “Habits” and “PictureShow,” but on the band’s latest work, there aren’t nearly enough moments where he truly unleashes his vocal talents. The track “Unavoidable” was the perfect opportunity to showcase Glenn’s range, but the duet between him and the drummer Elaine Bradley fell unbelievably short.
The synth beat quietly opened the song with a crescendo into Glenn’s throaty vocals, but the second Bradley opens her mouth, my whole body cringes. Her voice is so sugary and drenched in sticky syrup. And the lyrics are just the same. They’re cheesy, lovey-dovey and embarrassing. With lines like, “It’s unavoidable, you are a magnet. It’s unavoidable, I am metallic,” the only people that will connect with these lyrics are baby teenyboppers struggling with puberty and hormones.
But maybe these lyrics really do speak to Glenn. The singer has come out and said that this latest album stems largely from his recent hard times in therapy. Back in 2012, the band had to cancel some tour dates based on personal circumstances. Apparently, Glenn was struggling with his sexuality and eventually came out to the public. Many of the songs on the album are about Glenn’s attraction to men. “Sleeping with a Friend” and “Teenager in Love” are clearly about being with and longing after men, if you know a little bit about Glenn. Unfortunately, a troubled past doesn’t always make for good lyrics.
“Well you started out a stranger, foolish behavior brought us together tonight.” Not the deepest or most creative line but one of Glenn’s strengths is his delivery. I don’t know how he does it, but the way he seamlessly strings the words together makes me want to sing along. It’s catchy and something that will repeatedly play in my head over and over again until I want to rip my hair out. I will give it to him, though, “Sleeping with a Friend” is clearly the star; it might even find its way onto my iPod. But for the most part, the whole album belongs back in high school.
I almost feel guilty for not really liking Glenn’s foray into self discovery through his music, but so many of the tracks feel too high school and been there, done that. But many teens and young adults venturing into finding themselves could use any of the tracks as their own personal anthems. Unfortunately, though, it’s just not really for me.