Fitz and the Tantrums Abandon Soulful Roots For Pop Aesthetic on Self Titled LP (ALBUM REVIEW)

[rating=5.00]

fitz33For their third full-length album, Fitz and the Tantrums abandon their soulful roots in favor of a pop aesthetic more in keeping with current pop radio. 2010 debut Pickin’ Up the Pieces thrived on its retro R&B tone and soulful harmonies. 2013’s More Than Just a Dream deftly blended that soulful vibe with a modern pop flair, adding synths to the brass and incorporating rhythms from both styles. For their eponymous album, Fitz and the Tantrums have left the Motown influence behind entirely; the music is dance pop at its core.

Michael Fitzpatrick’s vocals are less evocative than on past albums, at times distorted or buried in the mix. His phrasing is also different, with more emphasis on rhythm than melody. Meanwhile, Noelle Scaggs is wasted, her voice serving only as a backing harmony and never stepping out to make the songs more dynamic. Lead single “Handclap” is indicative of the album as a whole. It has a catchy dance groove and no shortage of hooks, but still manages to be rather bland. Lyrically, the song doesn’t have much to say. The chorus is simply Fitzpatrick repeating the line “I can make your hands clap” over a thumping beat and a frenzied synth line. Sure, he can still make your hands clap, but the band’s music used to aspire to so much more.

The album suffers not only from a lack of soul, but also from a lack of excitement, which is strange to say about what is essentially a party album. Though most of the songs aren’t bad, few stand out as great songwriting or composition. “Burn It Down” is a milquetoast mid-tempo pop song lacking any inspiration. “Tricky” shows promise with a catchy synth line, but it loses all momentum when it gets to the generic sing-along chorus. In fact, almost all of the choruses are interchangeable and forgettable.

At their best, Fitz and the Tantrums still deliver infectious danceable music. The kinetic earworm “Get Right Back” is one of the album’s few bright spots, with layers that slowly build upon each other, all propelled by a jerky 80’s beat. “Oh, when your heart stops beating,” Fitzpatrick and Scaggs sing in the chorus. “Oh, when you feel it, feel it.” It’s one of the few songs where you do actually feel it.

Fitz and the Tantrums isn’t a bad pop album, but it is a disappointing indication of a band that seems to have lost its identity. They have lost their soul, though they can still make your hands clap.

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