80’s psychedelic pop meets indie dance—a strange combination to say the least—but Torches by Foster the People have mastered it. Whether you are driving down PCH or dancing the night away, front man, Mark Foster’s falsettos and keyboard knack will instantly boost your mood. Their first album debut has proved that the frustratingly likeable L.A. based trio will be around for a while.
Drawing largely from inspirations such as MGMT, Passion Pit, and Empire of the Sun, the electro-indie band’s first album, Torches, is unique in a good way. In spite of its quirkiness, it has great danceability.
Foster the people joined together in 2009 under the name “Foster and the people” but were misunderstood for “Foster the people” which eventually stuck. The trio is comprised of Mark Foster—front man in charge of vocals, keyboards, piano, synthesizers, guitar, programming and percussion. Mark Pontius—drummer and extra percussion, and Cubbie Fink, bass and back-up vocals.
Torches reached the coveted number one spot on both the U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums and Rock albums and single “Pumped up Kicks” soared to number three of the U.S. Billboard’s Hot 100 since the albums release on May 23, 2011.
Each track is comprised of funky electronic instrumentals underneath subtle lyrics you will catch yourself singing along to—when you least expect it. Foster can write a chorus so bold and simple that you can hear it once and sing it for a fortnight, a technique that made hits of "Helena Beat" and "Pumped Up Kicks".
“Pumped Up Kicks”, deemed the ‘song of the summer’ ironically chronicles the storyline of a hipster-style school shooting. The track begins with a mellow entrance that transfers into a psychedelic acceleration. Lyrics, “All the other kids with their pumped up kicks you better run, baby run, outrun my gun, all the other kids with their pumped up kicks you better run you better run faster than my bullet” are questionable. It seems somewhat morbid to be singing along to an upbeat pop song about a school shooting. Perhaps Foster’s falsettos dissolve the lyrics into the overpowering, yet tremendously upbeat melody.
I will be the first to admit that the songs are enjoyable and easy to sing along to, often doing so without even realizing, and without even knowing the lyrics.
"You say, ‘Now what's your style and who do you listen to?'" "Who cares?” “Your social guides give you swollen eyes”, “We’ve got nothing to loose.” “But, what I got can't be bought so you can just call it what you want.” Lyrics to “Call it what you want” lack depth but who cares? It’s a fun-to-listen to, inspire spontaneous dance parties type-of song anyway.
“Waste” gets in touch with a more personal side. “And every day that you want to waste, that you want to waste, you can, and every day that you want to wake up, and you want to wake, you can, and every day that you want to change, that you want to change, yeah I'll help you see it through, 'Cause I just really wanna be with you.” Indie-pop meets a sappy, semi-bitter message—how original!
Foster’s voice is controlled through most of it without letting his falsetto sunny the atmosphere. The chorus isn’t stellar by any means. But that is okay because after all—who wants to be singing along to serious lyrics that are depressing. I’d rather be left feeling jovial.
Foster the People’s Torches is the perfect laid-back summer indie-pop album. It’s disco-pop vibes and catchy lyrics provide for a great visceral effect but if you are looking for more than the surface offers, you will be disappointed.
The young L.A. based trio has proved that their album Torches will continue to top the charts, while they continue touring around the World to perform in front of sold-out audiences. Despite the meaningless lyrics, Foster the people’s Torches is a great summer album to inspire dance parties of all kinds.
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