DROWN out the lyrics and concentrate on the sound on the debut album from New York trio MEN, and you might classify it as just another dance-pop offering.
It’s only when you step beyond the music that the group’s sharp, radical and often dark heart reveals itself. Lurking behind pounding disco-shattered electronica and traces of funk and reggae are observations on issues ranging from the economy and the environment to adoption and gender politics, with nothing left at the door – this isn’t a group which shies away from baring its soul, as tracks such as Credit Card Babies, Rip Off, Life’s Half Price and My Family prove.
While MEN’s musical approach might lighten the mood, this isn’t an easy album to deal with, and their no-holds-barred and sometimes self-indulgent take on affairs of state and heart won’t be to everybody’s taste. But as a stab at making weighty issues accessible and supplying dance music with a few extra teeth, it’s a brave album, driven by conviction.
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