Hopeful and optimistic pop music

Indie-pop band, Fitz and The Tantrums, has released their fifth studio album Let Yourself Free. The six piece group hailing from Los Angeles got their start in 2008, and have released notable pop chart toppers such as “The Walker” in 2013 and “HandClap” in 2016. Let Yourself Free is the follow up to their 2019 record All the Feels. The band is known for their unapologetic upbeat sound, that sounds like it can only be appropriately played at a pool party.

The album starts with the track, “Good Intentions,” which is a pretty straightforward song about not needing to be stressed because the singer has “good intentions.” The chorus is very generic and most of the song is filled with “la-la-la” or “aye, aye, aye.” Luckily, the lyrics are rarely the focal point of the songs. The track makes up for it by having very fun and danceable melodies, along with an interesting vocal mix.

“Heaven” is a perfect party song. The main sentiment of the song is that life can be hard and stressful, but we should party so hard that we “get to heaven hungover.” It seems like there is a main theme throughout the tracks on the album about coping with the hardships of life and warding off negative feelings. “Sway” is another track that is simply about “pretty boys” and “pretty girls” just wanting someone to dance with.

A popular track on the album is “Moneymaker,” which has one of the strongest and catchiest choruses on the record. Although the content of the song is seemingly superficial, it is clear that the band has had a lot of experience writing pop songs. Their songs are melodic and don’t feel repetitive. Although they aren’t repetitive, they still all sound very true to the band, and none of the songs feel out of place.

“Ahhhh,” is a great track with a positive message. The band sings, “I’m gonna be a big deal / Be a big shot / Don’t think too small / Don’t put me in a box,” and it is clear that they are singing to an audience that needs some uplifting words of encouragement. It is a song that many younger listeners will be able to relate to, or people who are trying to break into the entertainment industry.

The final track on the album, “Someday,” is surprisingly sad compared to the rest of the songs. Lead singer Michael Fitzpatrick sings, “Dry wells of validations / I can change / I’m telling you / I can change.” The song is slower and deals with a lot of deeper personal issues. Since it is at the end of the album, it feels almost metaphorical for an ‘after-party crash’. The whole album was about looking for optimism in the face of struggle, and somehow this song manages to still fit with that theme. Fitzpatrick continues to sing “I’m always showing up in bad shape / I’m sick of myself and I know it sounds lame / I know it don’t help, but I’ll make it up someday.” No matter how bad it gets, Fitz and The Tantrums still have hope that someday it will get better, that someday things will change.

Let Yourself Free has a much different sound than the band’s hit album More Than Just a Dream which was released nearly ten years ago. The band has evolved over the years, straying away from their original indie sound. Still, their pop projects are filled with the same energy and catchy melodies that they were ten years ago.