The Future's Not Where it Used To Be3 Out Of 3 Stars
Australia's Atlas Genius are the latest band to rig up their computers to an 80's fixation, and their debut, "When It Was Now" is the kind of album that wears its influences on its sleeve. It's easy to see how they got the attention, as their greeting card of "Trojans" has just the right mixture of bubbly synth and Strokes-like guitar to stick in your ear canal (and if it reminds you of Foster The People's "Pumped Up Kicks," you're not alone in that assessment).
"When It Was Now" has a few more catchy songs to be found, especially the opening "Electric." Lead singer Keith Jeffrey's voice has the kind of mild intensity that makes the music catchy if unobtrusive, so Atlas Genius needs the kind of propulsion and hooks like the ones "Electric" provides. Same with the title track, which sounds like these dudes had a serious New Order fan-crush. I'd offer the same for "If So" and "Back Seat," which beg for a big dance remix.
The issue I have with not bringing "When It Was Now" past a C grade is that there is a serious problem with the songs starting to run together. Minus "Trojans" or "Electricity," Atlas Genius could just as easily pass for an album of Phoenix's B-Sides. There's some obvious filler; "Through The Glass" wants to be ring the rafters yet just sounds like someone trying to write an anthem without success. You can hear the ambition at work in the crowd grabbing choruses, what you don't hear a band identity as yet. "When It Was Now" could sow a few radio ready singles into the atmosphere or they could be the background music in a hip café. Potential for growth here.
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