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When The Mint Chicks second album Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! became a runaway success and netted the band five Tuis at the 2007 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards alongside another seven b-Net Awards, it was clear that the band would be underground darlings no longer.
So I guess in some ways it was a logical progression to try and recapture that whole underground vibe by heading to Portland, Oregon in the United States – somewhere you can guarantee that they were not a household name. Strange desire huh, but that is exactly what the guys did. Taking advantage of the Nielson brothers dual citizenship, they uprooted and made the move. Their focus was firmly on reinventing themselves as a three piece and gaining a foothold in the massive American market. It helped that some family were there too.
The next challenge was to deal with a reasonably high level of public expectation (back in New Zealand) and create a new album that wouldn’t disappoint fans of their innovative pop style. No easy task, you saw their 2006/07 success.
The good news, Screens will not disappoint.
While continuing to evolve their sound, The Mint Chicks have confirmed themselves as the kings of leftfield pop. They challenge the very concept of ‘pop’ (which means mainstream), by delivering a ‘poppy’ sound that both pushes and pulls you seemingly at will. But let me warn you, when it pulls, the force is irresistible.
Take the first single, ‘I Can’t Stop Being Foolish’ – a fairground like intro, handclaps, foot stomping beat and almost joyous vocals delivering what can only be described as the darkest of lyrics. It is genius and at under 3 minutes, ultimately consumable in its brevity.
‘Hot On Your Heels’ is another top track, this one really highlights the way the band is fusing their vocal melodies with incessant industrial/robotic/metallic beats – the hand clap style remains, but the track is driven along by an even greater tempo than the lead single.
The remaining tracks keep to a similar formula, swirls of noise, great beats and then the vocal melodies that serve to remind you that it’s pop we’re enjoying. This really is a top album.
Never wanting to miss out on the last word, The Mint Chicks will never be predictable – the eleventh and final track is an offbeat slow robotic ode, which clangs its way to oblivion, leaving you wryly smiling and waiting for that next release.
Essential Tracks
2010
Hot On Your Heels
Don’t Sell Your Brain Out, Baby
I Can’t Stop Being Foolish
Full Track Listing
1. Red White or Blue (3:55)
2. 2010 (2:39)
3. Hot On Your Heels (2:01)
4. Don't Sell Your Brain Out, Baby (2:07)
5. I Can't Stop Being Foolish (2:46)
6. What a Way (3:31)
7. Screens (2:31)
8. Sweet Janine (2:37)
9. Telephone (1:50)
10. Enemies (2:53)
11. Life Will Get Better Someday (3:18)
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