There's a great scene in Breakfast At Tiffany's where George Peppard's character Paul comes to a party at Holly Golighlty's apartment, and agent O.J. Berman asks him if he thinks Holly is a phony. Paul says he doesn't think so. "She is," Berman says, "But on the other hand you're right, because she's a real phony. She honestly believes all this phony junk."
Adam Palomo's Neon Indian project is, in some respects, phony. It's all predicated on retro synth sounds, and echoes 80s video games and has-been New Wave artists whose music has dated worse than their haircuts. Neon Indian is also part of a genre that has been given the tremendously irritating name chillwave. I want to kick my own ass every time I type that. Palomo didn't come up with the name, of course, and you can't fault him for an adjective some over-Adderalled blogger came up with, but still. Chillwave. Yuck.
Neon Indian is real phony, because Palomo honestly believes in the junk he's doing. Behind his false veneer he actually means what he's doing. Any kid with a computer and neon Ray Bans can channel some Tron sound effects and cop an attitude of bemused irony. That's not Palomo's deal. Yeah, he's using a cheesy sound palette just this side of chiptunes, but he's using it to write actual songs with actual emotions.
Exhibit A: "Deadbeat Summer," whose goofy synths are redeemed by the melancholy singing of a lovesick boy stuck inside on a hot summer day doing bong rips and pining after a girl he can't have. In fact, the whole album is imbued with the ennui of a recreational drug user who gets high because he can't get laid. There is a hazy, druggy, bored quality to Psychic Chasms, which is fitting: The first song Palomo wrote for the album, "I Should Have Taken Acid With You," was about a canceled appointment to drop acid with Neon Indian's visual artist, Alicia Scardetta. That song would be immensely lame were it not so damn good. What could have been a cheeky, winking nod to LSD becomes a bittersweet lament about missed opportunities. This is largely due to the longing in Palomo's voice, which comes across in the same pretty but muted way as Kevin Shields' vocals in My Bloody Valentine.
Article comments
1 - TexasMade
I really don't understand what you are trying to accomplish with this critique. It's obvious that you enjoyed many of the tracks on the album. But you personally attack Alan for believing in the music he's writing, and call it phony but "real" phony. That just doesn't make sense. You liked it, or you didn't, you recommend it or you don't? Talent is talent and Neon Indian does a postmodern mash of different styles, with melody and style throughout the album. You shouldn't quit your day job... if you are lucky enough to have one in this economy.
2 - Patrick Taylor
Phony in that it is made up of retro synth sounds, and has some of the ironic 80s worship that is endemic in hipsterdom today. Real phony in that he's writing actual songs with actual emotions. There's affectation, but he means it, and he makes it work. Hence, real phony. Ask Truman Capote. He's the one who wrote Breakfast At Tiffany's.
3 - Joe
Good, thorough, honest reviews like this reinstill my faith in music. You're a breath of fresh air in amongst a crowded industry full of hipocrits, hipsters, trend-followers and fakes. I plan to frequent your reviews in the future. :)
4 - Patrick Taylor
Thanks Joe!
5 - MJ
This was absoutely the WORST music review I've ever read in my life.
6 - El Bicho
you should look around more
7 - Patrick Taylor
I find that hard to believe, MJ. I know that I could do, way, way worse. I don't even have that many grammatical errors in this one, and I'm pretty sure I got the dude's name right.
8 - sugar critic
Pardon me for loving:
"gorgeous melod[ies] and haunting refrain[s]"
"the sounds of a bygone era as a jumping off point for. . . musical explorations."
"retro synth sounds, and. . .80s video games"
Great descriptive language. Although panties seem to be in a bunch because the "scenester" vibe is not your thing? Just enjoy the music!
I have no idea why the author would leave this posted online, unless it was out of his control? Did you get anyone to proofread?
I think Joe must be the stepdad.