Foreign Born – Person to Person – Album Review

When, as a band, one of your biggest and most vocal fans is Grizzly Bear singer/songwriter Edward Droste, you should probably have a pretty good idea that you are doing something right.  In the case of Los Angeles quartet Foreign Born I can assure you that this holds true.  Droste was actually one of the first people to break the first track from their upcoming release, Person to Person, on Grizzly Bear’s own blog way back in March, heaping praise on the band and the new record, and even providing a small disclaimer noting that he is indeed a true fan:

“This may seem like nepotism, but actually I became a fan of this band before ever meeting them, and then I asked them to open for two shows, and they were solidified in my mind as great guys and a great band, so my fanship is authentico.”

Despite being relatively new to the hype machine that is the blogosphere, the band actually started out all the way back in 2003 in San Francisco before relocating south to LA.  After releasing their debut EP In the Remote Woods on StarTime Records, they recorded their first proper LP in 2005 while touring with indie heavyweights ranging from Jason Collett to Rogue Wave to Cold War Kids.  Though originally self-released sometime in the same year, that record, which was called On the Wing Now, was later re-released on their next label, Dim Mak.  Now, on their third label in as many releases, Foreign Born is set to drop their second long player Person to Person on June 23rd on Indiana’s Secretly Canadian Records.

I had actually considered covering Foreign Born quite some time ago after hearing that first track, “Vacationing People,” but after a few listens I decided that I liked it so much I would hold off until I got my hands on the entire record and give it a full review.  If that doesn’t give you a hint that these guys have my stamp of approval I don’t know what will.  Obviously I have since received a copy of the album and listened to it more than a few times, and I can honestly say that it has lived up to my high expectations.

To say that Foreign Born writes anthemic pop songs is hardly going out on a limb, and many reviewers have said the same thing before, but I struggle to find a single word that better sums it up better than ‘anthemic’.  Best classified as shoegaze, this latest effort is ripe with lush and dense sounds fortified by massively catchy hooks.  In fact, perhaps the most impressive aspect of Person to Person is the meticulous song construction and near perfect production.  By balancing clashing cymbals with fuzzy guitar riffs, horns, and synths the band has struck an impressive chord of mellow poppy bliss.  Don’t let the mellow description fool you though; this is definitely mellow with an edge.

Diving into the meat of the album, there is definitely a progression at work here.  Early on the record really takes off, then slowly winds down as it makes its way to the tenth and final track.  When listening through it is subtle, but when you listen to the growling opener “Blood Oranges” and then launch directly to the minimalist “Wait In This Chair” the contrast is stark, with the closer exuding a floating sensation to set you on your way.  Essentially, this progression gives the album a sense of purpose and closure, which is always a good thing.  Especially when there are so many gems to be found within.  “Vacationing People” is a warm, lush burner that is indicative of the conditions in which the record was recorded, while “Winter Graves” eschews the warmth in favor of a grittier garage sound.  In a similar fashion, the bright vibes, handclaps, and addictive chorus of “Early Warnings” help to balance the grungy and jangly tones of “Can’t Keep Time.”  And I would be remiss not to mention the captivating harmony of the melodious guitar slides in “Send Us Home.”

Overall this is about as good of an indie pop record as you will find these days, assuming that you look at it in the proper frame of reference.  If you are trying to find the meaning of life in a rock record, you have come to the wrong place.  If, on the other hand, you are looking for beautifully arranged songs with soaring hooks, powerful riffs, hypnotic bridges, and captivating choruses you will find all of that and more on this album.

Foreign Born – “Vacationing People”

Foreign Born – “Early Warnings”

Buy Foreign Born @ Insound!