Broken Bells After The Disco

For The Fan Presents:

Broken Bells “After The Disco” (2014) Review

I’ve been lost in a sea of freelance writing. No one tells you that being a freelancer will require you to work 10 – 14 hour days, 7 days a week. But the one thing about working for yourself, or rather on your own is that you can listen to music all day and night. It’s a dream, it’s a gift, but the work is a curse because it’s a far cry from what the 9 to 5 world gets paid. Fulfilling, yes, but that’s for another time. The latest release from Broken Bells is a mix of melancholy tunes and creative combinations that trumps their debut record by a huge leap, in my view. “After The Disco” was released recently and while pop radio is going to miss playing singles from this record, fans will once again tune into some of the more interesting music coming out of the musical landscape right now.



James Mercer and danger Mouse have created an incredible mix of music that is very much on par with what you would expect from the indie darlings. This time around they seem to mix a fusion of pop sensibilities with bass driven disco elements. There are a few moments where you definitely feel the vibe that made the 1970s grand, but it’s really something far more eclectic all together. In fact, it’s the opening track that lays the foundation for what’s to come, with a driving bass line and good use of instrumentation with layered vocals and that uncanny Broken Bells vibe. “Perfect World” creates a good transitional bridge from their previous releases, and it’s one of the standout tracks on the record as a whole.

Not every song on the record hits as hard as their 2010 release, and that’s not to say that it’s not a good mix. However, the “disco” elements feel far too much like daft punk for me and I can’t stand the music coming out of that world. Broken Bells is able to break the spell of their debut, but this is far more bass guitar driven and leaves a little bit off the table. It’s a good record, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not the same as the first, and while I know that is cliché to state, it’s just not the same kind of illusionary, compelling record that first brought them to my radar.

Stand out tracks this time around include, “Perfect World”, “Leave it Alone”, “The Changing Lights”, “medicine”, and “The Remains of Rock and Roll”. All in all, this is a solid effort, and one that is definitely going to take me on a journey through more listens, but as it stands, I like their debut better. That may change over time, but if the bass lines are any indication, I’m going to grow bored with the 1970s feel fast.

Pros: Great mix of bass and other instruments, eclectic vocal style

Cons: Disco revivalists?

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