UK sophisti-poppers are back. Did you know?
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[5.00]
Jonathan Bogart: Use the H word, go directly to pop jail. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
[3]
Anthony Easton: The opening reminds me of the golden spot between John Cale singing “Paris 1919” and Scott Walker singing “Jackie” — nothing can top that pop-cabaret energy, and so the music kind of overwhelms the vocals. Plus, this seems so very English but the lyrics might as well be general American. A for effort, C- for execution.
[7]
Katherine St Asaph: “Why won’t the hipster girls notice me? I sound like Michael Buble and everything!”
[2]
Alfred Soto: I can’t believe we’re reviewing a new single by these post-sophisti-pop softies, and they sing like they can’t believe we don’t believe. Although the string crescendo works, the vocals are mush. As for the lyrics — well, Ricky Ross ain’t Paul Heaton.
[3]
Patrick St. Michel: The title had me bracing for some comment-section-worthy barbs, but the fact it isn’t a diatribe against Bushwick guaranteed it of at least a decent score. The fact it’s a sincere and lovely bit of string-accentuated pop only makes the surprise sweeter.
[7]
Edward Okulicz: “Sophisto-pop” is codeword for songs that are boring, but meticulously so. That does “The Hipsters” a slight disservice — its string sweeps are delightful and it’s not so meticulous that the chorus doesn’t sound like it has a couple too many words in each line. If I think of it as a radio hit from the 80s that somehow passed me by, I like it so much more.
[7]
Brad Shoup: Deacon Blue’s bougie cheeriness has been a small source of comfort for me over the years. Title aside, “The Hipsters” isn’t really a tweak to the formula. Imagine ELO without any heroes to emulate: that’s what we’ve got here, a “Livin’ Thing” for the vacationing set.
[6]