Word: burtonisms
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...combined styles complement each other so that an entirely novel sound emerges, one that neither musician could have produced alone. It is towards the latter end of this spectrum that we find Broken Bells, the new collaboration between James Mercer, lead singer of The Shins, and producer/musician Brian Burton a.k.a. Danger Mouse. The folk guitar strumming and soaring voice of Mercer fits impeccably into the hip-hop beats and electronic ambiance of Danger Mouse. However, a true synergy of the two styles never really comes across, leaving, simply, an undeniably catchy, though not terribly innovative, pop record...
...Album”. Since then, Danger Mouse has never remained in one place, producing albums and creating beats with musicians like Gorillaz, Beck, and his own project with Cee-Lo Green, Gnarls Barkley. On “Broken Bells,” however, Danger Mouse is billed as Brian Burton, and has spoken of his desire to make clear that he is not just producing an album by another artist; Broken Bells is meant to be a stand-alone project. It’s hard to say from the debut, though, if it will stand as more than just...
Mercer and Burton largely stick to their basic styles, and thus their joint product is not as experimental or original as one might have hoped. The sole creative peak is “Sailing to Nowhere,” which takes a number of surprising turns, beginning by oscillating back and forth between two different riffs until a swell of cosmic synth noises emerges, climaxing in an explosion of strings and an electric guitar solo. The transient nature of “Sailing to Nowhere” makes it one of the most captivating songs on the album, and shows...
...pitfalls of high-profile collaboration, creating a safe yet strong album. But when names such as Danger Mouse and The Shins are dropped together, more than just a risk-free pop-album is going to be expected, and this potential is never fully realized here. If Mercer and Burton want Broken Bells to continue as a band, they will have to step just a bit further than this...
...Alice in Wonderland” holds true to the fascinatingly eerie vibe synonymous with the Tim Burton brand but leaves much to be desired in the realm of plot innovation. The film fast-forwards many years after Alice’s (played by newcomer Mia Wasikowska) initial visit to Wonderland, depicting a 19 year-old Alice who has forgotten her prior experiences. The subsequent journey ensues when she discovers her hidden destiny to take down the reign of the stifling Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter...