“On the last album, there was too much of me.” That’s how Anthony Gonzalez – the sonic auteur behind that most sublime purveyor of symphonic-indie-electronic-dream pop, M83, describes the primary inspiration behind his forthcoming album Junk, released on April 8 by Mute. Highly anticipated, Junk is not just M83’s frst studio artist album in half a decade; it’s also the follow-up to Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming – which upon release in 2011 put M83 in the direct current of the mainstream. So why would Gonzalez try to remove himself from its follow-up and supplant himself with the surprising likes of Beck and Steve Vai. Wait, Steve Vai? The legendary virtuoso guitar hero who defned an era? On a M83 album in 2016? In trying to “remove” his identifable musical presence, ironically Gonzalez may have made one of his most personal eforts yet in Junk and with no compromise. With Junk, M83 has succeeded in making what Gonzalez called “an organized mess - a collection of songs that aren’t made to live with each other, yet somehow work together. From album opener “Do It Try It”, a fractured yet catchy mélange of old-school house music pianos and pop-art bubblegum hooks worthy of ABBA, to “Moon Crystal,” an instrumental whose mutant retro-futurist grooves evoke Genesis doing a prog-disco remix of the Love Boat theme, to the smooth new wave-meetselectro-funk workout “Time Wind” (featuring vocals by Beck) to “Go!”, an exultant synth-pop charmer featuring vocals from new M83 collaborator Mai Lan and guitar solo from legendary shredder, Steve Vai, one thing is perfectly clear: “Every time I make a M83 album, I’m trying to do it on my own terms – and it’s the same for this one,” Gonzalez says. “Whatever I do, whatever infuences I have, it ends up sounding like me. As a musician, I’m just trying to take you somewhere else, beyond your world.”
M**A
AWESOME
No explanation needed, m83.
C**M
but that's what makes it great. I'd actually give it 4
Don't listen to the negative reviews... this album is different than the others, but that's what makes it great. I'd actually give it 4.5 stars if possible; there are a couple songs that I am only slightly impressed with. I really appreciated how the album is embedded with powerful piano melodies blended with dance-able bass lines/drums that verge on dark 80s new wave. This album reminds me of Pink Floyd, Tears for Fears, Michael Jackson and a Disney soundtrack all combined. I wouldn't consider this a concept album similar to Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (my favorite), but there is a greater variation of musical styles. The album is surprisingly good for it's poppiness and you may not like everything on it during the first listen... give all of the songs 2-3 listens before you judge. At first I thought some of it sounded liked a cheesy Disney soundtrack, but I actually like this about it. Give it a chance!
N**X
I didn't even know critics were split on this. It's my favorite M83 album.
The media could not be loaded. Side B is competing for my favorite side of any vinyl that I've heard so far. Sure, it's different from some other M83 releases, but it's different in favor of my taste. It's also a fantastic album, by which I mean you can just start playing it and let it run.My disc-1 wasn't the flattest vinyl I've received, but it also wasn't the wobbliest either.
E**E
Auditory Gymnastics
There's no doubt that this is a departure from M83's previous work. I've heard critics describe the tone it sets as cynical, but I find it to be a refreshing sense of humor. Maybe it's because I agree with Gonzalez's stance and opinion on modern music -- it needs a bit of lampooning. His previous work was brooding, epic, and dramatic. I must admit that I was looking forward to more of the same, but what I got instead certainly has its value.My only true complaint with the album is that it's almost entirely incoherent. There's a bit of a thread that runs through the lyrics from song to song, but other than that they are auditory islands scattered across the seven seas of music. In other words, it's difficult to synchronize with the mood of the music when listened to front to back.I would also warn that it's not a very immediate album. It took me a couple of listens, for instance, to wrap my ears around Do It, Try It. But now that I have, it's become one of my current favorites.So prepare your eardrums for a workout and take this record for a spin.
V**E
M83's music is fantastic: 5 stars.....but Mute Record's CD packaging case is defective and broken.
I purchased the CD version. The music is fantastic, could not be happier. It's a great record from a talented artist moving in an interesting new direction. The Steve Vai guest spot is epic. Anyways, the 5 stars is for the music, obviously.However, the CD packaging is one of the worst I've ever seen. The CD seemed to be permanently locked into the plastic holder within the case. Normally, by pressing down in the center, it releases the tension, and the CD is free to be removed. Not the case, here (pun intended... groan.) Seriously, I have been buying CDs since 1986, and it took 5 minutes to get the CD removed from it's case tray. It involved bending and almost unintentionally destroying the CD itself. When it finally was removed, the paper digi-case was torn, and the plastic base cracked.Mute records, you have signed a great artist, you should improve your design of the physical CD.
A**G
Everything I like about M83 is here
Another success for Anthony Gonzalez (AG) and his current lineup for M83. Everything I like about M83 is here. This time the nostalgia of the 1980s is replaced by the 1970s, and the dial-up is turned to 11 on bubble-gum pop music that defined that era, resulting in an atmosphere that's both tongue-in-cheek and musically serious. The complaints I've read in other reviews just "don't get it"--M83 is about experimentation while also remaining firmly rooted in a style that is great to listen to. It seems that those that want to same formulaic pop-oriented M83 of "Hurry Up We're Dreaming" are the very ones complaining about the kitsch of the songs in Junk. I think this is what's so brilliant about AG and this album: he's daring us to follow the natural progression of "pop" to it's extremes; if you don't like it, then the joke's on you!
A**R
My favorite track is by far
It's just okay. There's nothing of note about this album. And I'm not speaking relative to the other M83 records. Its a retro hat tip that leaves an unsatisfied feeling in your gut when its finished. My favorite track is by far, "The Wizard." And at its close I only want more. There are tracks that sound like retro hits, but there isn't the genius here that I was expecting 5 years to develop. When its all said and done, I'm ultimately disappointed.
A**R
An album that dares to be polarizing.
You don't make an album like this expecting it to be loved by all. You make an album like this knowing that half the people are going to dismiss it as disposable trash. The artist is not stupid.No, he took that risk anyway because the emotions and memories evoked by this music are important to him. As a child in the 80s, these inoffensive TV show themes, these Bacharach-composed soft rock ballads, these crass sax-driven funk and soul-influenced pop songs were your world. For those of us who share those memories, this is the album we've been waiting for.I have been sitting on the sidelines for the last ten years, looking for the album where I could finally understand where M83 was coming from. This album was it. I can't stop listening.
Trustpilot
3 weeks ago
1 day ago
