Fredericton indie band Brookside Mall released their latest album, Twenty Thirteen, on June 29th. Not to be confused with the shopping centre, the pop-rockers combine powerful synthesizers with cavernous lyrics to result in what appears to be Fredericton’s answer to Foster The People.
The titular track “Twenty Thirteen” sets the stage for the rest of the collection by hitting us with a loud, distorted synth that calls to mind Black Sun Empire’s “Arrakis.” Providing a stabilizing atmosphere is a light synth pad while a series of electric bass plucks help the track’s notation stand out. With so many interesting sounds going on, Brendan MaGee’s nostalgic lyrics become a bit difficult to access every now and again, but the band more than get their message across right from the beginning.
“Coming Up For Air” continues to kill it with the distortion and plucky bass, but also becomes a bit more proactive with digital synthesizer melodies, creating a sort of summer metropolis vibe.
Another standout is “Now & Then,” which mixes the album up with a much more sombre tone via a piano foreground and an electric organ mixed with lyrics about a complicated relationship that doesn’t seem meant to be. “O.K.”, meanwhile, wins first prize for best opening, as it begins with a deeper-toned synth pad à la Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” followed by MaGee’s lyrics while it effortlessly builds into a drum sequence that takes centre stage by the end of the track.
The best on the record would have to be “One Day I Returned.” Switching things up by starting with a string-esque pad, the track gives this idea of a hero returning to some once-forgotten village that he used to call home. Then begin the lyrics, in which MaGee’s theme of nostalgia and fond memories take on more of a spoken-word guise—a very welcome surprise.
With a curious sound and an even more curious namesake, Brookside Mall’s Twenty Thirteen is an album you don’t want to miss.