Screens - The Mint Chicks
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OPINION:
They won a pile of awards, lost a bassist, moved to Portland, took three years to record an album, regularly performed in animal costumes and started releasing their most experimental work yet.
But anyone worried The Mint Chicks were letting success get to their heads - especially on last year's creepy AutoTune-loving single release Life Will Get Better Some Day - can rest easy.
Because, on Screens, they sound more like The Mint Chicks than they ever have.
The Auckland act's third album is just as good as, if not better than, 2006's brilliant - and multiple Tui Award-winning - Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!
That's a minor miracle considering just how much pressure there was on the progressive rock trio, consisting of brothers Kody and Ruban Neilson, and drummer Paul Roper.
Screens sees the Chicks excelling in the lo-fi territory they're known for, with elements of twee '60s pop, gentle riffs and sing-along melodies coming to the fore.
If tracks like Ockham's Razor and Funeral Day were the Apocalypse, this is the after party, held in the Grey Lynn tearooms.
Screens is full of wonderfully kooky pop songs (I Can't Stop Being Foolish, Don't Sell Your Brain Out, Baby), warped rock numbers (2010, Red, White Or Blue) and brilliantly batty love songs (Sweet Janine).
Then there's the delightful Hot On Your Heels, which comes complete with cymbals, hand claps and a middle section synth freakout the Beatles would be proud of. It's pure pop perfection.
But the Chicks can still get heavy when they want to. Check out the evil instrumental vibe of Enemies, or undoubted album - and possible career - highlight What A Way, which pairs a synth-fuelled feedback blitz with Neilson's lazy "la-la-laa-laa" drawl.
Start shining those Tui Awards. We could have another clean sweep on our hands.
* What do you think of Screens? Post your comments below.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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such a good album i think its different to their others though
Ouch! Sorry EA I wont forget my place again!
Hehe...mike75 = washed up bogan. Stick to Sweetman's blog, i think that's more your scene eh.
This album is an amazing ride. Crank it loud on the stereo, crank it loud on the headphones.. its all good. Can't wait to catch them live this year. david.
This album seems to lose the raw emotion of F**k the Golden Youth. The lo-fi sound is something I had to get used to but I've come to enjoy the intricacy underneath the pop-ish songs. What a Way: what a song.
Great review, though i wouldnt call What A Way their career highlight. Life Will Get Better Someday is easily my fav track. Best Mint Chicks album yet!! Lovin the spooky quirky electronic sounds
Keep trying mate...maybe one day you will convince people that this mediocre kiwi band is the next big thing. "Best album ever" " multiple Tui awards" blah blah Does your brother play drums or something??
AMAZING COMMENT BIG FAN! Where would the internet be without your cutting insights? People would read Schulz's review and have no way of knowing how to respond to his honest enthusiasm and critical evaluations. But you've made it easy, and summed up the band in three letters! Meh! Congratulations man. Just, wow.
Meh? youve got problems this is one of, if not the best album of the year for sure, and i dont just mean in new zealand
just wait this album will take out the next awards or whatever it is just like Crazy? Yes! Dumb? no!
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hmm, a year later, and this album is still making me yearn for the mint chicks of old...good to see them constantly challenging themselves, but for me, there was -around the first ep's and to an extent it carried through the 1st couple of LP's- an undeniable energy to the band..Something akin to the Enemy or Tall Dwarfs, something so unique and believable that, unfortunately for me, has not been fully realised. Screens is 3-3.5 stars for me and is far from their best work. Still, the best band from this country...and always interested to see what happens next