Marshmallow Coast: Seniors & Juniors Strikes Back

After the rest of his M Coast band left, ex-Of Montreal member Andy Gonzales reverted to the Marshmallow Coast name under which he released his first two albums. Taking the concept even further, he decided to re-record his debut, 2000’s Seniors & Juniors, with a few new songs mixed in. Seniors & Juniors Strikes Back relies on a much more electronics-driven, fuller sound than its lo-fi predecessor. It also features a lengthy guest list, including his former M Coast band mates and several members of Olivia Tremor Control. On the re-workings, the basic melodies are unchanged, though a distinct funk undercurrent runs through several tracks. The overall quirky, off-kilter quality of Gonzales’ work remains intact, and a couple songs benefit from female vocals. The new tracks fit in fine, but do little to enhance the overall package. Seniors & Juniors Strikes Back definitely sounds contemporary, but it’s still not particularly memorable.