I’m seeing these guys open for Crystal Castles at a Lollapalooza “after-show” that is really a pre-show—this concert goes down on Thursday, and Lolla starts on Friday. None of that really matters, though. Lollapalooza will be in full force by the time you get around to reading this. Yeah, I’m trying to get a little ahead for the fest, don’t hate.
Anyway, here’s another band that I cannot escape seeing. This time, though, I think it’s all going to work out for the best. Or, I guess, will have worked out for the best by the time you read this.
This band has received a lot of praise for having their own sound…I wouldn’t call The Naked and Famous’ sound “unique,” not by any means. This band sounds like a pure hybrid of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and The xx. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing—both of those bands are great—but I don’t think merging two buzz bands counts as originality.
I’m being too negative, though—this really is an interesting combination. The low-key, bass heavy beats of The xx, the powerful synth rips of Pains, as well as the gooey melodramatic lyrics of both bands come together into something that does sound pretty cool.
So, what it comes down to here: originality isn’t all that important. Sometimes, a band can create something of their own by borrowing pretty liberally from other groups already out there. Sometimes, it can even sound pretty good. Passive Me, Aggressive You won’t be my record of the year, but hey, I could be listening to worse stuff and seeing worse bands.
Swole Ear 
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