Neon Trees "Picture Show"

You wouldn’t think this next album fell under the category of sophomore slump if you only heard the first two tracks on the record which had enough energy to power a  building for at least a week. The band starts to fizzle out soon after the first half, not by tracks that are bad per se, but tracks running on 30 watts; I am a fan of the album, but it’s the sequencing of tracks I question. Tyler Glenn makes his best Gavin Degraw impression as he sings the track, but with a sharper bite. I’m surprised they are “Moving in the Dark” at this speed. The next song takes the energy to the next level and sounds like the equivalent of pre-mature pessimist on the verge of becoming a slightly psychopathic cynic ready to raise hell; which the keys are pounded into toward the end, but they can take it. I think this verse makes more than just “Teenage Sounds”: “I’m sick of being called a fag because I'm queer” or the just as honest, but snarkier “I'm tired of everybody trying to be a DJ/Yeah I can also pick my favorite songs and press play.” The animal snuck in the Picture Show, but that is okay because “Everybody Talks” and has points to communicate, but most talk too much, and I prefer to say nothing unless I have something worthy to say; if you talk all the time it’s hard to tell when it is important. The vocal interplay between Bradley and Glenn increase the impact of the sentiment occurring once you experience “Mad Love,” but you can still dance to that rhythm.                                                               The undeniable funk found in the next track will prepare you for the “Weekend,” and whether you eats oats or walk in halls, it doesn’t matter because this song rocks. They have songs that meld dance and rock, but that bouncing bass, due in part to Kaskade, lets it known that this song owns the floor for the next few minutes as it conveys the “Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night),” and why not : “Keep cool, stay tough... but that's never enough” sounds right to score a scene with some former social outcasts strutting their brand-new store-bought coiffed confidence. This song may become one of your favorites soon enough; if not only for the funky delivery when the pressure gets too tough. What sounds like a frivolous instrumental accompaniment at first is the only way to assist what could simultaneously tell a tale of broken “Trust” and insatiable drug lust . “Close to You” is another slow burner, and doesn’t really prepare you for the next song. Whether it is the spoken word passage, the group “heys,” or that stunning synth it has me screaming “Hooray for Hollywood!” “Still Young” has this riff that I cannot get out of my head; especially apparent during the bridge, pointed in one direction. ‘I Am The DJ’(More). The next song warns you to “Never trust a town to tell you who you are,” because you would often be let down by what you hear; often because judgements are made by what you “Show” which determines if people will even bother becoming acquainted with you. I may give the breakdown all my luvin, and what sounds like horn funk could just be earwax, but it’s all good. I don’t suppose you could “Tell Me You Love Me?” The last bonus track has just enough lite sax to “Take Me For A Ride” on a dream cloud after a long day at work. While the first two tracks are my favorite, the whole album is pretty consistent, and at least worth one listen; including the cover of “Don’t You Want Me Baby?” I'm pretty sure the ans-wer is noooooo.