Screens Review

First things first, DO NOT judge this album the first time you listen to it. That’s what I was tempted to do, because in all honesty, after listening to Screens once through I was a little disappointed. It seemed to me like The Mint Chicks had lost a little of the magic that made Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! such a good album, but I decided to hold my criticisms until I had listened to the album at least 2 or 3 more times. It ended up being a very very good decision, as the more I listened, the more I warmed to the album. Barely a week later I have completely changed my mind, and can confidently say that Screens is nothing less than incredible.

I think what disappointed me at first was the fact that The Mint Chicks seem to have, for the most part, toned down the musical explosiveness that permeated their debut album. The sound of four kiwi lads beating the snot out of their instruments yet somehow still producing something musically outstanding seemed to defy logic, and this is what drew me to tracks like Walking Off A Cliff Again and others on that album. So when it became obvious that the band had departed slightly from that sound into something far more influenced by pop than spaz-punk, I didn’t quite know what to make of it. Then I started listening to the final track on the album, Life Will Get Better Someday, a track that remains my favourite on the new record, and it completely changed my perspective on the rest of the album.

Suddenly tracks that had at first seemed soft and weak became 3 minute nuggets of musical brilliance, and I realised that the magic of Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! had not been lost but expanded upon. I also realised that the explosiveness of their debut album had not disappeared, and was still heavily prevalent on tracks like Enemies, the penultimate song on the album. Now as I listen to the album on the bus almost every day I feel like a total moron for wanting to jump up and start dancing in the aisle, such is the extent to which most of the songs have grown on me. I finally understand why this album has been getting such great reviews

Final verdict? Screens is absolutely fantastic, and I can highly recommend it. All the hype surrounding the album is totally justified, so go buy it! Right now!