!!!: "Myth Takes"

Grab your favorite partner and saddle up. !!! is back with their latest dance party, and this time they're all about having fun. The political themes of "Louden Up Now" have been brushed aside to make way for what could very well be the group's most energetic album to date. As one would expect, "Myth Takes" is one hell of an album, featuring thumping bass lines, driving guitars, and music that is absolutely guaranteed to get you moving no matter who you are.

Not instantaneously though. The album starts off subtly with the title track, "Myth Takes," which really serves as an introduction to the album if anything. It's spaghetti western guitars and dance punk doo-wop ("Sha-sha-sha-sha-sha doobie") trick you into believing that the album is going to be a low-key affair, but as it fades out you're soon treated to the pounding drums and all-around intensity of "All My Heroes are Weirdos." Go ahead and shut yourself in your bedroom. Freak out. No one's watching, and you know you want to.

"Must Be the Moon" utilizes a funky bass line and a steady rhythm to create what is arguably the strongest song on the album in overall danceability, while "A New Name" shows off the guitar and has an almost old-school disco feel to it. Both of the songs are incredible and clearly demonstrate the group's vast talents. "Heart of Hearts," the album's first single is a fairly strong track that should be incredible live, but is really plagued by !!!'s biggest flaw; poor lyricism. Of course, when you're playing music that is meant to be danced to, lyrics are always going to take a back seat. Anyone expecting to be moved by deep lyrics should probably look elsewhere.

The album slows down a little bit on "Sweet Life" but eventually explodes into 100% U2-ish anthem grandeur before the track comes to a close. The band is at their most experimental here, shying away from the thumps and grooves and substituting knob tweaks and static. It's a cool song, to be sure. Not as cool, however, as "Yadnus," my personal favorite on the album. The song's strong bass line and groove is complemented perfectly by flutters of string orchestration and cackling "Ah ah ah ah ah ahs" to form an awesome, almost eerie sound. Here, lead singer, Nic Offer, sings, "I'll take anyone. New York to London. They say brave men run to the sound fun," and you can't help but sing along by the time the verse rolls around the second time. It is by far the standout track on "Myth Takes."

The cleverly named "Bend Over Beethoven" and "Break In Case of Anything" keep the energy moving, the latter of which features some stellar brass-instrumentation. At one point near the middle of the song, the instruments hit some triple-forte staccato attacks that are impossible to not enjoy! "Infinifold" closes the album off on a mellow tone. Unlike the rest of the album, it is really the only song with lyrics that aren't repetitive or lighthearted. The serious tone is definitely welcomed on the album, but "Infinifold" just catches you off guard by it's utter lack of energy. It's only endearing moments are towards the end, as the music swells and the "la la las" are slowly swept away into the silence that caps off the album.

Overall, "Myth Takes" is a pretty rowdy affair by anyone's standards. !!! definitely knows how to blend genres and make it fun. The album can be incredibly fun, and it's pretty easy to get lost in the madness sometimes. Of course, listeners expecting some sort of deep experience are going to be disappointed. The lyrics on "Myth Takes" are unquestionably shallow (and often a bit silly), even by !!!'s standards. All of that is a side note, however, to what is otherwise a fairly strong album, and one that should definitely be checked out.

Recommended for fans of !!!, anyone hosting a dance party, or anyone who just wants to make an idiot out of themselves while alone in their bedroom (or on a dance floor, who knows?).

Key Tracks:
1. "All of My Heroes are Weirdos"
2. "Must Be the Moon"
3. "Sweet Life"
4. "Yadnus"

6 out of 10 Stars