Challenger, the electro-indie band from New York City, plans to drop their second full-length album on May 27th. Led by producer/songwriter John Ross, Challenger debuted their first LP, The World Is Too Much for Me, in 2012. Their sophomore effort is titled Back to Bellevue and features eleven epic pop tracks rooted in indie electronica. Ross left the hustle and bustle of Brooklyn and returned to his childhood room in Florida to write and record the album.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a huge fan of electro-indie music. My friends and I have a collaborative Spotify playlist called Electropolis. It’s filled with hits from bands like Washed Out, Purity Ring, Small Black, and Summer Heart, and we’re pretty selective about what makes the cut. If you don’t dig the smooth sounds of a cinematic synthesizer, then, first of all, what’s wrong with you? And, second, read no further, because liking Challenger’s Back to Bellevue was just way too easy for me.
Driven by bright synth leads and punchy, robust percussion compositions, Challenger’s latest offering separates itself from the crowded electro-indie genre by lacing its tracks with honest, fragile vocals that aren’t buried in reverb. While this album reminded me of bands like Summer Heart and Washed Out, the raw and delicate vocals held hints of Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes. Think Small Black but with more rough edges. This combination of clear, raw vocals and catchy synth leads works best on tracks like “How Terrorism Brought Us Back Together” and “Sweetheart in San Francisco.”
Ross’s experience as a composer for television is apparent in the album’s cinematic synth pop sounds. Several of the songs seem suited for the screen. I could see a car driving further and further away as the sun sets or a couple sharing their final kiss before we fade to black as each track on Back to Bellevue flows into the next. But Ross doesn’t stop at simply crafting cinematic songs. Challenger shows their diversity with songs like “Sylvia,” which provides a hauntingly beautiful juxtaposition to the brighter melodies. With “I Want You To Love Me,” Challenger strips away the intricate drums and synthesizers in favor of an acoustic ballad that echoes back to the happy holiday declarations found early in the album on “Birthday At Beth Israel.”
While I thoroughly enjoyed the album and admired its bold, different vocal approach, I have to admit that the raw vocals seemed out of place on the song “Sorry,” which is arguably the most beautiful track in terms of musical composition. Then again, even when the chosen vocal style seems out of place, it still sounds incredibly honest and makes the music more endearing. Challenger’s latest album is an undeniable success for any fan of electro-indie. Rest assured that several of the songs from Back to Bellevue will find a home in Electropolis come May 27th.
4/5
Hailing from 'The Good Life City' of Albany, Georgia, Colby Pines is the middle child of five boys. While his family is primarily comprised of men, the Pines family did have a female dog once... unfortunately she died... God bless his poor mother. When Mr. Pines was in third grade the doctors discovered that he had an extra bone in his knee. The bone did not possess any magical powers or help Colby run faster/jump higher, so the doctors surgically removed the bone and refused to let Colby keep it as a souvenir. Colby recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in having cool friends and wearing great sweaters. Colby studied abroad at Oxford University's Trinity College where he was able to visit three of the four coasts, but was not able to bring back a baby with a British accent. Colby enjoys going to the movies, scotch, traveling, playing folk music with his band, BirdHead, eating good and bad food, writing, dabbling, playing Fantasy Football with his Pigskinz and Sundee Beerz League, reading a great book, and all sorts of music. While Colby has a bit of a bipolar taste in music, some of his favorite bands include: Band of Horses, Death Cab for Cutie, 2pac, Washed Out, Johnny Cash, Childish Gambino, Local Natives, The Beatles, Danny Brown, and Beach House. Colby is currently single and quite possibly ready to mingle. Colby has broken five bones, saved two children from drowning, been to Canada twice, and almost fallen into The Grand Canyon once. While he tends to miss things like Breaking Bad, eighth grade, Hey Arnold!, and Surge soda, Colby's excited for the future where he hopes to continue writing and doing the things that he loves.