Two Door Cinema Club: Tourist History

    I've for some reason been putting off Two Door Cinema Club, but I love listening to their songs when they pop up on the radio, so now they are receiving the recognition they deserve (and I seem to be sticking with the "club" theme). Tourist History is the 2010 debut album of a group that hails from Northern Ireland, which is pretty cool because I've not ever heard a band from there (that I knew was from there) that I liked. I guess I would expect music from Ireland to be more folk or tavern sounding, to grossly generalize. Not so with Two Door Cinema Club, whose name derived coincidentally in 2007 from the mispronunciation of the local Tudor Cinema, as they blend disco, electro pop, and post-punk into probably what can be safely labeled electro dance punk. Clearly they try and stay relevant to the modern swing of music, and this is confirmed by a quote by their recording mixer, "They are completely crazy about music - there is not one hour when they don't listen or download something from a blog. They remind me of when I was a teenager." Interestingly enough, the reverse can be said of their music, as they quit university to pursue a career because their first drafts, per say, on MySpace were receiving a lot of attention. So they went to record their first five track EP in 2009, Four Words to Stand On, all but two songs eventually making it on to Tourist History. Two Door Cinema Club is on the French label Kitsuné Music.
    Well, Tourist History is packed full of energy and yet is smooth and cool and sublime all at the same time. Their guitar rhythms are always tight and the drums beat away almost like a disco machine, and yet I totally do not mind that surprisingly. Their music just has this brightness to it, just listen to the opening of the first song, "Cigarettes in the Theatre", that is insatiable, and it contrasts so well with the toned down cool pop--just beat and singer, Alex Trimble. I love the ending where all the brass comes in full force and tops off the already kicking track to a stunning finish! The next track, "Come Back Home" is a good balance between a minor key verses and major key chorus theme, kind of reminds me somewhat of The Strokes. Follow that up with "Undercover Martyn", another poppin' dance tune with some melodrama, and the album is already well on its way. I love they way track four, "Do You Want It All?" grows incrementally, and how smooth it feels, makes me want to lie back close my eyes and be immersed by the almost trance like vocal harmonies and electronic fuzz in the background, great climax finally when the music drops and the guitar rips it solo style. "This Is the Life" is a little more standard indie dance rock, while "Something Good Can Work" returns to the sing along feel good style that makes Two Door Cinema Club unique. "I Can Talk" has some beat bopping of sorts as a rhythmic ploy, while the layered vocals are a nice touch and the chorus has nice energy. By "What You Know" it does feel a little like I've heard this before, but I think that is because it is one of the songs that sees a lot of radio play. "Eat That Up, It's Good For You" is a nice contrast, very smooth and love the synths and toned down verses with call and response, nice counter melody in the guitar too. This one explodes at the end, in a cacophony of synth and distortion, before slowing to a sublime finish. I think this should have ended out Tourist History, but instead "You're Not Stubborn" does; back to the dance floor for one last number that is slightly slower for those who have maybe danced a little too much out at the club in one night. But it has been a good night regardless.
    I hope you enjoyed my maybe more creative than normal write up, I guess I was inspired, which speaks highly of Two Door Cinema Club. You can hear their entire discography, minus the EP, but including Tourist History and a remix album Tourist History Remix (February 2011) on their MySpace here. Or just check out "Do You Want It All" over under the 'Monthly Sample Tracks'. Enjoy!