Peacefulness and Positivity

The light, summer sounds of the dream pop genre have become more prevalent in popular culture the past few years. This carefree genre has permeated tv and movies, creating an indie youthfulness that seems to be in style. Empire of the Sun is probably the most popular group within the confines of this musical field, and it would be safe to say they’ve become something of a household name. Their latest album Two Vines brings more of the sound that Empire of the Sun is known and praised for.

Vocals that are present in this album blur the line between lyrics and melody. Empire of the Sun’s voices float in and out of audibility both sending the message while becoming an integral part of the overall instrumentals. “High and Low” steals the spotlight bringing an awesome track to the table as well as promoting nostalgia for the group’s single greatest hit “Walking on a Dream.” In addition, the album’s title track “Two Vines” sounds like an electrified ’70s anthem with mellow guitar riffs and an echoing chorus. The rest of the album carries similar themes of positivity and a floating sound like flying through a ’90s laser-scape.

As good as their sound is, Two Vines offers little diversity for listeners looking for a change in the group’s musical style. Empire of the Sun’s direction stays the course in their new release which makes a full album listen a bit of a task to be undertaken. Once the listener is a few tracks in, the rest of the songs kind of melt together making them indistinguishable. All that aside, Empire of the Sun’s carefree sound lives on in Two Vines and permeates the entirety of the album for the listener’s enjoyment.

What Empire of the Sun doe, they do extremely well. Press play on any one of their tracks and you are immediately transported to a lovely natural paradise full of warmth and color. The only disappointment brought by their latest release is the lack of variety between all of the tracks but that is easily overlooked when one considers the power Empire of the Sun possesses to create a mood, and as long as they have that power in their music, their tracks are worth a listen. Maybe with their next release the group may adjust their course but for now they are an auditory staple that will live on as long as listeners crave the sound they produce.