Passion Pit
Manners
Frenchkiss Records
By Kevin Hakannson
When Passion Pit released their debut EP, Chunk of Change, just last year, it was immediately evident that they had it -- whatever “it” might be. The songwriting on that EP, penned by bandleader Michael Angelakos, had the polished perfection of a veteran band, not one that’d been together for about a year. This reviewer even noted the high bar that it set for the band’s full-length debut. Well said full-length, Manners, is here, and the bar has been cleared.
Appropriately enough for a band still in its infancy, Manners basically takes the baton from Change and runs with it. The formula hasn’t changed: Passion Pit combine spacey keyboards, a fair amount of samples, a nice blend of acoustic and electric percussion, and Angelakos’ freakishly high-pitched wail into songs that are at worst toe-tapping, at best life-changing.
As it would turn out, never is the equation to what PP does best more evident than on the record’s opener. “Make Light” is fairly low key at first: after a soaring instrumental intro, Angelakos quietly sings the song’s first verse. But as they’re wont to do, Passion Pit inevitably whips this one into a frenzy, as said soaring instrumentals eventually come together with Angelakos’ vocals, sparking an energy that lingers straight into “Little Secrets.” This one’s a bit more on the funky side; there are a number of songs on the record that show a clear ‘70s R&B influence, none better than this one, emphasized by more phenomenal, borderline sensual keyboards.
While “The Reeling” is certainly catchy, I have to wonder if it’s really the record’s best. There’s no doubt it’ll resonate with the MGMT fans among us, but it just doesn’t demonstrate the fervor that the band brings to most songs. Here’s hoping that the single, and a pretty cool video to boot, drive listeners to check out the remainder of the record.
And quite a remainder of the record it is. “To Kingdom Come” is something to behold. This one starts off with the type of synth melody you’d be accustomed to hearing from an ‘80s on-hit wonder, but Angelakos and company make it stick with a sickeningly simple “Na-Na-Na” chorus. “Folds In Your Hands” may not be for the epileptic among us, rife with syncopated synth hits, random xylophone runs, and unpredictable vocals, before a simple, quick drumbeat turns this one into an all-out rave.
Just when you wonder exactly when Passion Pit’s bag of tricks will be empty, “Eyes as Candles” throws you another bone. Starting as just another pop tune that The Format would be proud of, the tune’s second chorus hits accompanied by a booming horn section. The song proceeds as it likely would have regardless, but the chorale of baritone saxophones is just another subtle ploy that improves the song immeasurably. “Candles” leads seamlessly into “Sleepyhead,” a jubilant shout, and the only selection the band borrowed from Change.
Not surprisingly, Passion Pit’s popularity is starting to go global. They weren’t a local Boston band for long, as their current headlining club tour, which also includes stops at high profile festivals like Sasquatch and Bonnaroo, includes several sold-out dates in the likes of Los Angeles and New York City. Their seductive sound can appeal to fans of pop, rock, or dance music, and beyond that, the group’s musicality is undeniable. Angelakos may not have had world domination in mind when he started Passion Pit, but with the blueprint he’s got in place, that may be what he winds up accomplishing.
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