The Chainsmokers – Memories Do Not Open (Columbia)
American DJ’s Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall have become big names on the mainstream charts in the last year. The turning point in The Chainsmokers’ career advanced with the release of ‘Roses’ in 2015. Although the hit was heavily influenced by future bass, the pair are true contributors to the EDM-pop field. Visions of teen house parties with raspberry flavoured vodka may come to mind, but if we are intended to take album titles seriously then please consider “Memories Do Not Open” as your cautionary warning.
Repetition is seemingly what The Chainsmokers do best. Most of their work is repulsively catchy yet never memorable enough to write home about. This is exaggerated by radio stations generating hits like ‘Paris’ until it no longer has substance, if it ever did in the first place. At least the track’s up-beat, pop elements are enough to drain out the common theme of ‘young love taking on the world hand in hand’ or something to the degree.
There is no shortage of despair and turmoil as a result of young love. In fact, there are 12 versions of it repeated over and over. Most of which are governed by dampening, monotone vocals. The duo has disclosed a temporary abandonment of mainstream EDM for more subdued tempos. This is exemplified in the album’s promotional track “The One”. Sombre piano and soppy lyrics accompany Taggart’s high school musical-styled voice. But don’t forget, of course, the signature bass dump when they become lost for ideas in the next verse.
To whose advantage, it is unclear, but the addition of Coldplay’s Chris Martin in “Something just like this” unfortunately doesn’t save the naff lyrics. But we may all come to realise that cheesiness sells, and often, wins Grammy nominations!.
On a positive note, “Don’t Say” provides a bittersweet redemption. Skip to the fourth track and listen to Emily Warren’s rich tones marry comfortably with the punchy tempo and tidy backing tune. Unoriginal it may be, but at least we have some raw (or manufactured raw) vocals to sink into.
Where do they go from here? It is a disposable age. Artificialised vocals and EDM-pop is trendy, for now. Soon enough Taggart & Pall will need to move their sounds onto something cool (not ‘Something just like this’) to entertain the new teens on the block. Throwing “Memories Do Not Open” into the mix. We came, we saw, we listened and we moved onto something else – fast.
Emma Lumbus
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