Reviewed by Jorie Mallinger
Score: 9.5
It’s been two years since Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter released an album. Those two years have been tough on them. At the halfway point of the recording process, Barthel’s sister, as well as Carter’s friend, committed suicide. Both of their personal heroes (Prince and David Bowie) died as well. Torn apart by grief they took a break in the music making process. When they did return to finish what they started you can tell that album that they created question love, life and dealing with a “Cruel World”.
Three is an aggressive goth-pop album and is almost a rebellion from their 2014 EP Nightlife which was filled with synth-pop anthems. This album is completely enthralling. I have always enjoyed Phantogram’s cinematic music but as soon as I heard the first single “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” I instantly wanted more. Carter’s beats and instrumentals are astounding. This combined with Barthel’s voice -which easily moves from an innocent falsetto to a rough punk snarl, creates incredibly catchy songs.
My favorite of the album is “Same Old Blues” which is the band trying to get into Barthel’s sister’s mind (“You can never save my soul/I think it’s time to let me go”) there is an instrumental breakdown near the end of the song where the beat drops so fast and heavy that it feels like the beat is dragging the listener into a deep hole themselves.
Three is not entirely goth-pop though. “Answer is a candid piano ballad and “Run Run Blood” is an ecstatic mess of a pop song, conjuring the duo’s pop-punk appeal alongside their penchant for dream pop and electronica.
Phantogram actually performed at Iowa state in the Memorial Union’s Great Hall on October 15th. Of course, I was there and Phantogram did not disappoint. Their energy, voices, and music were on point and I have been in post-concert depression ever since.
FCC: 10
RIYL: Big Grams
Favorite Tracks: 2, 3, 6
