Monostrip
The grand youth
Wonderland Records
"The grand youth" is a mixed bag, not only in terms of quality, but in focus: opener "Too many hearts" feels like an electronica-tinged post-punk revivalist anthem; "Miami" is a jumble of '80s pop influences; "Monostripper" oscillates uncomfortably between a quieter, spoken verse and a louder chorus; "Brooklyn Bridge" succeeds, yet its songwriting and production leave it feeling out of place; and so it continues. There is a lot to like on this record -- with "Drowning" featuring Emmon being one of the highlights -- and a lot that is too easily forgotten or skipped over. It's a bit too par for the course to be truly excited about, especially from an act that boasts members of I'm from Barcelona.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
