Summary:The third full-length studio release for the California psych rock band formed by Sam France and Jonathan Rado features contributions from such artist as Wayne Coyne, Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes, Tim Presley of White Fence, and Bleached.
Buy Now
Buy on
Record Label:Jagjaguwar
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Indie Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Folk
Whether imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery―and other cliches―as it pertains to this third album in the Foxygen catalog is up for debate. If it’s some secret genius, the jury is still decidedly out. Either way, you’ll want to hear this one for yourself.
Its songwriting and overall conceptualising is definitely miles above the duo's experimental adolescent triple album. ...And Star Power is not an album - it's an out-of-body experience.
The only sore-thumb is lead single ‘How Can You Really’, which feels far too polished for the lo-fi and experimental feel of the album. Apart from that, though, this is a record of magnificent magnitude and one that’s audacious as hell.
Willfully meandering yes, but it's an enjoyable shambolic ride that bottles early Pink Floyd, Skip Spence's cracked psych-folk and the ragged majesty of the Stones' own magnum opus. [Nov 2014, p.111]
For a project that’s all about adding more and more dimensions to the Foxygen experience, something pretty basic but essential is missing here, the core of an identity for the band making the music.
A misstep, to be sure, but even more troubling is that Foxygen have distended from tight, trim retro-pop to unkempt, unfocused conceptual goo in less than two years.
This is one of the more original and exciting albums of 2014… with an experimental enthusiasm that works. It may not appeal to the pure popThis is one of the more original and exciting albums of 2014… with an experimental enthusiasm that works. It may not appeal to the pure pop sensibilities of fans of their last two since it has broken away from the safe sensibilities of these unexceptional albums. Although it mines 60’s and 70’s psyche, pop and punk shamelessly (particularly Todd Rundgren, the psychedelic era Beatles and the Stones), it is clearly a sound for the 21st century. Its tongue in cheek parodies remind me of the best of the magnificent Bongwater or Mothers of Invention.…Collapse
Definitely one of the more interesting albums I've listened to in the past few years and worth checking out. There is lots to like.
MuchDefinitely one of the more interesting albums I've listened to in the past few years and worth checking out. There is lots to like.
Much of the criticism seems to be centered on the side 3 tracks - its certainly not as bad as people are saying and this section does give the album a sense of flow right through to the final two tracks. Also interested that no one has picked up on how the later half of "Brooklyn Police Station" (also on side 3) essentially rips off Brian Jonestown Massacre's "Here it comes"...
All aside, the album's imperfections - and let's be honest we are talking about a double album here (Revolution No. 9 isn't exactly a fan favorite on the White Album) - actually help make it great.…Expand
Shades of early Ween. You'll have to give this one a few listens before you judge it, as it takes some breaking in. Oddly, it's actually aShades of early Ween. You'll have to give this one a few listens before you judge it, as it takes some breaking in. Oddly, it's actually a less musically-mature album than the group's breakout album We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, but that's not a bad thing on its own. Experimental and really interesting, ...And Star Power is a show of occasional brilliance in a sea of wonder.…Expand
While I can't say this is a bad album, it's incredibly unorganized and has no real sense of direction. There are a few stand-out songsWhile I can't say this is a bad album, it's incredibly unorganized and has no real sense of direction. There are a few stand-out songs however; like How Can You Really, Coulda Been My Love, Cosmic Vibrations, and Cannibal Holocaust. These songs most sitting on the first half of the double album leaving the second half feeling uneventful and long-winded. Plus the "Star Power" portion of this album is really nothing to talk about though it isn't bad by any means. In fact the only BAD tunes are "Mattress Warehouse" and Wally's Farm, the former being criminally bland and a test of patience while the other is just unbearable. While the whole hour and twenty minutes it takes to listen to this album isn't overall terrible, it leaves me wanting a more concise and focused album like last years "We Are the Twenty-First Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic".…Expand
There are a couple of really cool, listenable tracks on this record. Foxygen just decided to put a bunch of pointless noise in between them.There are a couple of really cool, listenable tracks on this record. Foxygen just decided to put a bunch of pointless noise in between them. The listenable tracks are a testament to Foxygen's ability to make good music, the rest is just sort of pretentious. It sort of sounds like they were allowed to just record whatever they wanted to as filler. I propose that this album should be turned into an EP called Actual Music On And Star Power... 1. How Can You Really 2. Coulda Been My Love 3. Cosmic Vibrations 4. You & I 5. I Don't Have Anything/The Gate 6. Flowers. But even those songs sort of feel like b-sides, this album really lacks the energy of We Are the 21st... I don't know it just doesn't really feel right.…Expand
WATTCAOPAM was literally my favorite album of 2013. But unfortunately I have to join the minority here and declare that this was an enormousWATTCAOPAM was literally my favorite album of 2013. But unfortunately I have to join the minority here and declare that this was an enormous step backwards... and perilously close to complete suckitude. Yes, the genre influences here are different and less to my liking, but it's totally expected that a band like Foxygen would experiment that way. I don't hold that against them at all.
What really surprises and disappoints me is that I feel like most of their energy and crazy songwriting style was chucked out the window. Gone are the awesome wacky mid-song tempo and mood shifts that were their modus operandi their first two efforts. Instead we're left with needlessly messy, often sleepy, unexciting glammy lounge music.
I really hope this is just a failed experiment and not a sign of things to come.…Expand
