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Librarians

Alright Easy Candy Stranger

(Postfact; US: ; UK: Available as import)

What the heck do a bunch of dudes from West Virginia know about making retro ‘80s dance pop? Well, from the sound of Alright Easy Candy Stranger, they apparently learned something over there in Morgantown. Librarians’ first full-length album sounds like a sleepy version of Interpol, with enough hi-hat beats and handclap rhythms to almost, maybe, make you want to dance. While there is an abundance of poppy harmonizing, the lead vocals have a lazy deadpan delivery that is reminiscent of Beck’s witty alt-rock one-liners. The pretentious nonchalance is intended to be funny, but comes of kind of drab. There are undeniable indie pop tunes, such as “Sweet Sugar Lip”, and wacky song titles like “9 ft. Tattoo” and “Come on White Girl”. You almost don’t know whether to take these guys seriously or not. As for myself, I’m gonna opt out; you can decide for yourselves.

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Joe is a freelance writer who focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. His work has been published at AOL Music, Staten Island Advance, NYDailyNews.com, and SIDump.com. One semester away from mastering J-School over at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, Joe lives in a pastoral abode out on Staten Island where he enjoys the solitude and the whiskey.


Related Articles
By PopMatters Staff
19 Jan 2011
Slipped Discs continues with the return of a '60s pop heartthrob, the best underappreciated hip-hip album of the year, the resurrection of a legendary '80s band, some great beats from M.I.A. and many more. All records that missed our top 70 list last year.
2 Aug 2010
PopMatters spoke with the band’s co-leader, Ryan Hizer, about Morgantown’s surprisingly cool music scene, those fickle things called influences and the band you should really be listening to: Big Ass Manatee.
29 Jul 2010
Librarians' second album deftly combines danceable, slightly funky beats with touches of psychedelia. It's a winning combination.
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