I think Mini Mansions are best described as
swaggering electronica. They’re like a
mix between Metronomy and Queens of the Stone Age (not a surprise
in the case of the latter, perhaps, as Michael Shuman is in both bands). Things are catchy throughout, but with a
notable layer of dirt liberally sprinkled over it all. The versatility on show here is neatly illustrated
by the fact that this is an album that features appearances from both Brian
Wilson and Alex Turner. ‘Honey, I’m
Home’ drags, and feels like an afterthought (‘we need one more song for the
album!’), but every other track is super. The simple, guitar driven ‘Mirror
Mountain’ is a notable highlight, as is the melancholic ‘Creeps’. The stand out track, though – which is also
one of the stand out tracks of the year for me by anyone – is the perfect
‘Death is a Girl’. Well worth a listen.
sample track: Death is a Girl
sample track: Death is a Girl
