Album Review: Twin Shadow – Forget

Twin Shadow – Forget
Red General: 2010

The latest Twin Shadow album, Forget, arrived just in time for November, a month dedicated to raising money in the fight against prostate cancer. In this fight, the mustache replaces the proverbial ribbon as a sign of support. It gives folks an excuse to sport a lip bush, without feeling awkward, all the while feeling good about supporting a worthy cause. Apparently, George Lewis Jr. doesn’t need an excuse. He wears his mustache accordingly, perhaps not for the same reason, but none-the-less, he does it well. And while the mustache has little or nothing to do with his music, it goes without saying that the mustache supports the music, as though to say, “Dance you silly hipsters, my mustache approves.”

Like any good electro driven album, Twin Shadow uses his synthesizer for good, rather than trendy—that’s to say, he doesn’t overdo the electro glue. This provides a decent base for dancing, pendulum motions and a swaying of the body with arms swinging upwards in a climatic snap of the fingers. If you find yourself growing your own mustache, don’t be afraid. Wearing American Apparel clothing will keep it at bay by pulling your focal point closer to the chest hairs popping out of your V-neck t-shirt.

Borderline David Byrne vocals seduce the listener into a feeling of euphoric ’80s nostalgia. Similarly, a Morrissey like drawl adds a layer of consistent low balled emotion to everything Twin Shadows sings. Lyrically, wanting or not wanting to be in love is a popular idea, so sounding depressed is a plus.

The trance like property of “Tyrant Destroyed” gives the track a sobering characteristic, repeating the lyrics “This is love and I was such a tyrant destroyer.” Like much of the album, it’s relatable even though the overarching topic remains opaque. Love makes people destroy good things.

This album is really a resurrection of ’80s lo-fi pop music, which evokes images of green-screen music videos and retro faded denim. Twin Shadow reincarnates the lo-fi video with “Slow,” singing “so slow, I don’t want to believe, or be in love.” The video splices a discussion between Lewis Jr. and who we presume to be the camera man, who asks Lewis Jr. about his interest in fast cars and the drums. It’s an odd and almost uncomfortable video with purposely poor camera work, recording Lewis Jr. whose acting strategy must be something to the point of “be apathetic always.”

In a similar way, this video accurately describes the album. The fine tuned tracks, tight production and catchy dance riffs almost seem insincere, as though the entire album is a parody of the ’80s. Whether or not this is the case, the album is quite listenable as something of its own origin and so it’s hard to judge an album on intention.

If you’re into ’80s nostalgia and/or you have mustache you’d better jump on this album before the buzz-band label devours its existence.

2.5 out of 5