Bootyvicious.
Nearly 4 years since the release of Champ, Canada’s alt-pop powerhouse Tokyo Police Club returns with their third full length studio album Forcefield. But is this “bootyvicious” (I kid you not – that’s how the band described the record to me over Twitter) new LP able to solidify these Newmarket rockers as something more than a band we leave fondly behind in our memories of the 2000’s?
The band gets to work answering this question right away, opening with the extremely ambitious “Argentina”. Clocking in at over 8 minutes, the song transitions through 3 styles and demonstrates a new found confidence in Monks’ vocals. The boys keep the energy high on tracks like “Gonna Be Ready” – the band’s heaviest song to date, with guitarist Josh Hook and drummer Greg Alsop performing some of their most impressive work on the album. The hauntingly quiet verses juxtaposed with heavy instrumentation in the choruses make this track a standout.
Interestingly, the band also dives further into pop-style music than ever before with tracks like “Hot Tonight” and “Miserable”, while still retaining their unique charm. This radio-friendly side of Tokyo Police Club is one that many might not have expected, but is certainly not cause for alarm as songs like these provide some of the album’s highlights. Monks’ proclaiming “I just wanna make it through one more night” during the chorus of “Tunnel Vision” is one of the catchiest melodies the band has ever delivered.
It would be wrong to wrap up before mentioning the second-last song on the record, “Through The Wire”. On par with Elephant Shell‘s “Harrowing Adventures Of” and Champ‘s “Hands Reversed”, the band delivers not only one of the best tracks of Forcefield, but of their entire catalogue.
Monks and company have publicly stressed the desire to avoid specific musical trends that ultimately came and went since 2010, and create something enduring with this album. Although moments like the verses of “Beaches” can feel empty as a result, the band succeeds in crafting something very special on Forcefield. It’s clear in their live show that the band is very passionate about these new tunes, playing a large chunk of these songs in the last few performances I’ve caught. It’s just a shame that the album contains only 9 songs after fans have waited so patiently for new music. Overall, Tokyo Police Club certainly solidifies themselves as a force (field?) to be reckoned with. Go Canada!
“And the vinyl is transparent!”
vandenhoogenband 