What is it about electro-pop that divides its adoring fans from its sickened critics with such precision?
There are some, myself included, that find the genre to have a genuine vitality about it. A real, gasping, desperate desire to hold you close and carry you along a turbulent emotional rollercoaster, a ride which peaks at squeaking synth powered highs, and descends to melodramatic miserable lows.
There are others though, that find this sort of blunt grab at a listener's heartstrings to be plainly artificial, like a boyfriend telling you he loves you two dates in with the ultimate ambition of a quick shag. These listeners consider the relationship with the music, like the relationship with the fictitious boyfriend, to be unsustainable. Good for a bit of fun perhaps, but nothing long-term.
These accusations are, unfortunately, quite undefendable. Electro-pop will never be remembered for its subtle songwriting, or for its melodic nuance. Big, unashamedly glee synth hooks compete with self-involved, overly sensational lyricisms, to create pieces of overcharged emotional theatre that are about as exciting as they are instantly forgettable.
But I have recently come to love electro, in full awareness of these faults rather than in spite of them. It's the same reason you tuck in to that tub of ice cream at the end of a big meal, justifying it by offering up excuses like: 'I deserve a treat', 'it's only an occasional guilty pleasure' and 'I'm going on a run tomorrow'.
Because why shouldn't you treat yourself musically? Why can't we listen to some tunes that offer straightforward meaning and direction, that satisfy you at the time and cut through the 'hard work' of the more interesting electronic bands? Don't get me wrong here, I like Fuck Buttons and Animal Collective as much as the next music blogger, but it's nice to hear something that offers accessibility above the chaos that often makes noise pop and other electronic music so impenetrable.
Mmmmm. Ice cream.
YES =D
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