The Los Angeles-based pop outfit Fitz and the Tantrums has been delivering their neon-laced tunes for sixteen years, and their sixth studio release, Man On The Moon, continues in the group’s style as it weaves various soul, dance, and funk elements into their party- and commercial-ready sounds.
The band is led by Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, with co-lead vocalist Noelle Scaggs, bassist Joseph Karnes, multi-instrumentalist James King, and keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna. For this release, the group decided to let it flow, going for a more cohesive album approach with their slick style. The most interesting musical arrangements arrive early with “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” which, if you couldn’t guess from the title, directly highlights Ennio Morricone’s influence on the group’s sound.
Those whistles and castanets may be a surprise for listeners, but Fitz and the Tantrums have always incorporated some unexpected instrumentation into their pop outings. Flutes and acoustic guitars pop up in “Waste My Time” and backward tape loops with layers of synths color “Queen of Hearts”, both of which bring a hip-hop vibe to the album. Closer “One Day” employs strings and ukulele to transport the listener with an Eastern-sounding motif, wrapping up the record.
More conventional is the excellent drumming, which is showcased on “Where I Go,” while the swirling “Motion” increases the synths and psychedelia. The title track is the standout effort here, as Fitz sings about escapism while the band reclaims the group’s retro-soul roots through the use of violins, handclaps, and deep bass. Scaggs takes over lead vocals on the dramatic “Young Days” which yearns for anthemic status but never quite gets there.
The songs throughout Man On The Moon are noticeably short and seem to cut out before overstaying their welcome or blossoming into something memorable. Most of the record finds the group content to deliver a mix of breezy soul-tinged pop efforts like “Oh Maria”, “Ruin The Night” and “Perfume” or eager dance floor electro numbers like “Umbrella” and “OK OK OK”. All are serviceable, if a bit derivative at times, but in the end Fitz and the Tantrums fans, and the group’s commercial appeal, will all be satiated with Man On The Moon.
