Album Review: Passion Pit – Gossamer
After exploding on to the scene, Passion Pit has finally released the follow-up to their critically-acclaimed, popularly-enjoyed debut album, Manners. Gossamer, their sophomore album, which as far as I can tell is named after the red fur-ball character occasionally seen on Looney Tunes, is a fantastic step for the still-young band. It might not have the blast or the shake of their first album, but as a whole it seems more mature, not necessarily better, just more mature. Where Manners played through as an album laden with danceable numbers, Gossamer explores the less jovial side of Passion Pit.
It is beautiful, playful and mature. It starts where Manners left off, lifting any fan up high, occasionally sputtering in the middle, but not letting them down until it’s run its course. It may not have any one song with the allure of “Little Secrets”, “Sleepyhead” or “The Reeling”, but it is a solid spectacle for the ears. It has songs to dance to like “Carried Away,” “Love is Greed, and “Take a Walk,” but it truly shines in some of the more docile, “darker” moments (see “It’s Not My Fault, I’m Happy,” “Constant Conversations,” and “Where We Belong”). I say “darker,” but bitter or less hopeful more accurately describe the difference.
There is a rawer quality to this album. It seems more personal, returning to the days of their initial EP, Chunk of Change, not only in honesty, but also musically. The glitchiness, quick tempos and clever use of samples have found their way back. Imagine a more sensible, gorgeously produced version of Chunk of Change with flavors of Bon Iver, Jonsi and the occasional spritz of musicals and you’d come close to imagining something that sounds like Passion Pit’s new album. But, what good is imagining it, when you can hear it? Go buy it!
- Chuck Ryan
This post was written by
More commonly known as Adam Rondeau, Chuck founded Music That Isn't Bad in 2009, has an addiction to live music and in his free time trains seeing-eye dogs using old Phil Collins albums.
