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Broken Bells

Certain things just don't mix: oil and water, laxatives and sleeping pills, indie rock and electronica. The latter is apparent on the debut album from Broken Bells, which features James Mercer, front man for indie heavyweights the Shins, and musician-producer Danger Mouse.

The two excel at what they do -- Mercer at blending emotive lyrics, pristine vocals, and melodious guitar riffs, while Danger Mouse is a wiz at mashing hip-hop beats and R&B. Together, however, the two have made a gutless collection in which Mercer's voice and guitar provide the only moving parts. Most of the ten songs are filled with cheap keys, electronic beats, non-existent bass, and sound effects.

"The High Road" kicks the album off. Mercer's voice and full acoustic strums are the substance here. The electronic handclap drumbeat and keyboard effects add nothing. The end result is a paper-thin, pop 40 tune.

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Despite the gimmickry, Broken Bells holds a few standout tracks -- “Vaporize,” “The Ghost Inside,” “October” -- but in the end, even they lack staying power.

"Was it all for show?" Mercer wonders on "The Ghost Inside." Yes, James, that seems to be the case.

  • Album title: Broken Bells (2010)
  • Artist: Broken Bells
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Songs: (1) The High Road (2) Vaporize (3) Your Head Is on Fire (4) The
  • Ghost Inside (5) Sailing To Nowhere (6) Trap Doors (7) Citizen (8)
  • October (9)Mongrel Heart (10)The Mail and Misery
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Certain things just don't mix: oil and water, laxatives and sleeping pills, indie rock and electronica. The latter is apparent on the debut album from Broken Bells, which features James Mercer, front man for indie heavyweights the Shins, and musician-producer Danger Mouse.

The two excel at what they do -- Mercer at blending emotive lyrics, pristine vocals, and melodious guitar riffs, while Danger Mouse is a wiz at mashing hip-hop beats and R&B. Together, however, the two have made a gutless collection in which Mercer's voice and guitar provide the only moving parts. Most of the ten songs are filled with cheap keys, electronic beats, non-existent bass, and sound effects.

"The High Road" kicks the album off. Mercer's voice and full acoustic strums are the substance here. The electronic handclap drumbeat and keyboard effects add nothing. The end result is a paper-thin, pop 40 tune.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Despite the gimmickry, Broken Bells holds a few standout tracks -- “Vaporize,” “The Ghost Inside,” “October” -- but in the end, even they lack staying power.

"Was it all for show?" Mercer wonders on "The Ghost Inside." Yes, James, that seems to be the case.

  • Album title: Broken Bells (2010)
  • Artist: Broken Bells
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Songs: (1) The High Road (2) Vaporize (3) Your Head Is on Fire (4) The
  • Ghost Inside (5) Sailing To Nowhere (6) Trap Doors (7) Citizen (8)
  • October (9)Mongrel Heart (10)The Mail and Misery
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Coyote tracks in frail San Diego avocado grove

Second place winner in Reader neighborhood writing contest
Comments
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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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