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...driven by simple, catchy parts—each enjoyable on its own terms—thoughtfully layered together to produce a truly impressive debut album. Electro-rock band Phantogram, hailing from Saratoga Springs, NY, is comprised of Josh Carter on guitar and Sarah Barthel on keyboard. Though dominated by its singles, “Eyelid Movies” still manages to present a satisfying introduction to the up-and-coming...
...orca-esque squeal and is driven by a warm, droning synthesized bass line that, when isolated at the beginning of the verse, creates a beautifully hazy atmosphere. “When I’m Small” follows, sounding like a less dramatic or soul-infused Portishead cut. Though somewhat rhythmically monotonous, the song is carried by the strong, pulsing bass line and Barthel’s excellent vocal performance...
...Eyelid Movies” a thrilling opening, and does an effective job of introducing what’s to come. Carter’s sleek, overlapping guitar lines on “Mouthful of Diamonds” are repeated many times throughout the LP. It seems as though he barely strums a whole chord, but his finger patterns are always effective and atmospheric. Barthel’s “oohs,” which first appear on “When I’m Small” are repeated on many other songs, injecting life into some...
...Eyelid Movies” comes from Phantogram’s rather transparent attempt to roughen up their songs through the use of lo-fi production elements. On “When I’m Small,” background crackling makes it sound as though the song is being played on a cheap vinyl record player. This attempt to avoid the crystal clarity of electro pop and set Phantogram apart from similar groups like Postal Service makes the album less accessible than it might have been. It does, however, succeed in livening up the album’s repetitive...
...Though the second half of the album is clearly no match for the opening, it does contain some gems. “Running From the Cops” has Carter singing through garbling effects similar to those found on Aphex Twin songs. Though these effects can be grating, they do add some variety to the vocals in their oddity. “You Are the Ocean” is the only track with Carter on lead vocals that truly succeeds in being an emotional and catchy tune, proving he can be an effective lead singer, not just a guy playing...