Memories...Do Not Open
This is the sound of world domination in 2017. Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall’s debut album comes after quite the storied introduction to their sound: two monster EPs and a summer-owning single (“Closer”) they were confident enough to leave off here. *Memories…* takes the band’s dynamite blueprint (retro synths and minor-key piano that softens up their explosive EDM) and adds some maturity. Opener “The One” feels like “Closer”’s broken-hearted sequel; Emily Warren’s two stately contributions add class; and the mellow “Wake Up Alone” features Jhené Aiko in masterly, seductive form.
The debut album from the celebrity production duo is a somber departure from their EDM days—a lifeless, anodyne pop record that wallows in basic feelings of regret and narcissism.
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