The new indie rock

Mini Mansions’ A Guy Walks Into a Bar… confronts sex, emotion and music itself, while retaining an artistic allure, unlike any band we’ve seen before. With a firm grasp on indie rock, Mini Mansions kicks into gear for this new release to set a standard for the future of alternative music.

Most indie rock bands are chasing an overproduced sound that’s radio-playable, but a majority of the music out there lacks grit and real feel. Mini Mansions–founded by Zach Dawes, Tyler Parkford and Michael Shuman–curates their music for the curious. For listeners looking for a fresh indie rock-cut, A Guy Walks Into a Bar… might be for you. The album jitters with creative impulse, and will leave you undeniably moved.

Intro track “Should Be Dancing” plays frivolously with trembling basslines and striking guitar chords while lyrical innuendos in “Don’t Even Know You” play up the sexual tension of bar scenarios. Mini Mansions taps into their rebellious spirit in “Forgot Your Name” with a new wave drumbeat and Cage The Elephant like vocals. Overlayed female vocals singing “All the other boys remember their name” sound reminiscent of the Tom Tom Club’s 1981 hit single “Genius of Love.”  

The band ricochets between soft and hard in “I’m In Love” as guitar rhythms break down their guise of emotional confidence. But if you’ve ever been in love before, you know how “Time Machine” feels. The tingly sensation that makes your palms sweat as every memory becomes tinted with a hazy sense of overwhelming joy. Mixing cosmic sounds with synth, Mini Mansions’ sound is vibrant and dynamic. Each track is beautifully executed on the album. With an Alex Turner like voice and a psychedelic touch like Tame Impala, Mini Mansions is produced with intimidating complexity. 

A Guy Walks Into a Bar… is compiled with 11 tracks each over three minutes long. Each track is grounded by musical mayhem that fulfills a riled up utopian pleasure throughout the album. By all means, “Gummy Bear” pinpricks the listener with a shameless urge to listen, and listen again. Frolicking with dubious intentions, “Gummy Bear” plays pop vocals and a ridiculously catchy melody that reels you in. 

All too soon, A Guy Walks Into a Bar… comes to a close with the dark wave dream trance “Tears In Her Eyes.” With an articulate sound, Mini Mansions turns this album into a rock production. Remember how The Strokes defined early 2000s indie rock? The genre needs a new sound, and Mini Mansions might just be it.