Alphabeat Albums (2)
What The Critics Say
Alphabeat are about as close to a perfect pop band as you'll ever find. Hailing from Denmark but then transplanted to London, this sextet is a rare breed, indeed. The members successfully combine the pure pop of ABBA, the sassy sounds of the B-52's (without the kitsch), and the disco stomp of Scissor Sisters (without the camp), yet come out sounding unique. This, in itself, is enough to keep the average listener entertained, but the melodies are what keeps you coming back for more. The girl/boy vocals recall some of twee pop's finest moments but Alphabeat's robust sound is worlds away from their lo-fi contemporaries. Listening to this unpretentious, joyful debut album is like having your favorite birthday party, winning the lottery, and going to Disneyland all at the same time. From the disco-influenced opener "Fantastic Six," Alphabeat reach out and grab your attention with hooks, "whoo-whoos," playful rapping, and even more hooks. Then, with "Fascination," they switch gears with a soul-influenced pop treat that is so melodic and irresistible that it'll bring you to tears (of joy). "10, 000 Nights" ups the "op" ante even more. "Boyfriend" dips back into the disco/R&B vibe and offers up a fine slab of modern soul soaked with a glorious melody. And, luckily, the album serves up even more great moments: "What Is Happening," "Rubber Boots," "Nothing But My Baby," and more. Even their enthusiastic take on John Lydon and co.'s "Public Image" is classy classic pop. While the first half of the album is more eclectic, the second half is just as groovy although less varied. Unlike bands like the Maccabees, the Kooks,and the Wombats, the album holds up all the way through, never repeating the same formula song after song. Alphabeat could very much be the saviors of pop music but we'll have to see what their next album sounds like before we place the crowns on their heads. ~ Steve "Spaz" Schnee, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Before taking the U.K. charts and the pop-loving blogosphere by storm when it was rejiggered and reissued in 2008, with a clarifying "This is" appended to the title, Alphabeat's debut, originally eponymous and released only in their native Denmark, was one of the most sterling and undersung power pop records of 2007. The differences between the two editions of the album seem, at first blush, fairly cosmetic. Although three perfectly lovely songs ("Ocean Blue," "Into the Jungle," and "The Hours") were swapped out altogether, most of the six which were re-recorded (the indelible "Fascination" was left untouched) bear relatively superficial changes: some additional keyboards here, a tacked-on string section there, and a generally beefed-up, plusher sound. But the cumulative effect is definitely evident, and it's not necessarily for the best. It's hardly enough of a transformation to render the album unrecognizable -- after all, the Danish version had plenty of '80s-inspired excess to begin with, and its undeniable pop thrills are, for the most part, undiminished. But some of the delirious scrappiness of the more guitar-oriented original version does get lost beneath the layers of synth pop gloss. The spunky "Boyfriend" turns full-on Euro-dance, while the charming choral oddity "Rubber Boots/Mackintosh," which distinctly recalls the New Pornographers at their most beautifully idiosyncratic, is reborn as a far more pedestrian synthesizer slow jam, simply titled "Rubber Boots." Though these qualms shouldn't deter the curious from checking out the more widely available This Is Alphabeat -- which is, indeed, nearly as glorious -- avowed fans will definitely want to seek out this version, for the three jettisoned tracks if nothing else. ~ K. Ross Hoffman, All Music Guide
