‘Foster The People’ album worth the wait

Foster The People’s newest album, “Supermodel,” is just what fans of the band have anxiously awaited for three long years. The wait seems to have been a very good thing, for clearly the band took the time to put out a high-quality product.

“Supermodel” is the group’s second studio album and will be released Tuesday. Their first album, “Torches,” was released in 2011, and they are mostly known for their classic summer anthem, “Pumped Up Kicks.”  Bandleader Mark Foster’s talent and sound are what really make them unique and one of the reasons they seem to keep piquing my interest.

I approached this album as a casual fan of the group. I sing along on the radio, but in no way am I a stalker fan-girl. Of course, I loved “Pumped Up Kicks” (it’s SO catchy) and have a few more of their individual songs here and there that I really enjoy, but not a complete album.

However, after listening to “Supermodel” extensively, I have to say this album is worth adding to your collection in its entirety and has me possibly reconsidering that fan-girl thing.

Thanks to the goodness that is iTunes radio (basically Netflix for music lovers, with massive amounts of variety at the touch of a mouse), I was able to listen to the entire album prior to its release.

iTunes radio has revolutionized the concept of previewing new music. You can listen to albums you may be interested in buying, generally a week in advance, and decide for yourself whether or not to support the artist. If you absolutely hate it, you won’t be wasting your money on over-processed crap. This has me very excited over upcoming albums I just can’t wait another week to listen to.

After I purchased “Coming of Age,” the first single off the “Supermodel” album, I was convinced that I needed to give the album a serious listen. That single sets the tone; if you enjoyed it, you will certainly like the rest of the album, too.

Listening to the album, I felt good and light-hearted. The uplifting beats, tempo, and uniqueness gave me a feeling of relaxed happiness. With all the sunny weather we’ve been having lately, this album would be amazing to play in a car on a warm day, with all the windows down.

I also found this album to be an ample study soundtrack. You don’t get super-caught up on the lyrics in most songs, just the relaxing harmonies and diverse sound within each number. “Nevermind” was one of my favorites for focusing, and from the album in general. It is a must-add to your finals week study playlist.

Another track I fell in love with is “Fire Escape.” The sound is vulnerable and believable, and includes acoustical guitar and Foster’s singing in a purer and less synthesized form. For me, it was one of those songs that I am immediately attracted to when hearing for the first time, and I think it adds a lot of depth to the album.

While “Fire Escape” is one of the slowest songs of the album, most of the songs are fast-paced and happy. Two other singles released off of the album, “Pseudologia Fantastica” and “Best Friend,” show off a more upbeat pace, and most of the others follow a similar suit. If you enjoy the sound of one, you will enjoy the sound of them all.

My least favorite song off the album has to be “Are You What You Want To Be?” I found it to be obnoxious and overdone. You can hardly understand the lyrics because it’s so awkwardly paced (which I think is the point), with a poor combination of a relatively good chorus and annoying bridges in between.

I feel the lyrics and title of “Coming of Age” are very suited to this album — the band certainly has come of age and matured their sound over the past few years, and stayed true to their original vibe in the process.

Overall, “Supermodel” is a thoroughly enjoyable, great album that is ideal for studying or blasting in your car. The bar will always be set very high for Foster The People after the highly favored “Pumped Up Kicks,” but the band has created a very worthy and satisfying album that fans will find pleasing to the core.

Advocate Staff