Tracks: "Torches" (Foster The People)

Before this album, no one knew Mark Foster (especially those who do not want anything hipster become associated with them), being a composer of jingles and later on, according to L.A. Times, an "underling of Dr.Dre." But more than a year ago, the band that he formed (originally named "Foster and the People") released the anti-hipster for hipsters single "Pumped Up Kicks," he became an instant star and a household name among those indie-pop-electronic lovers. They later on released a three-song EP that eventually became this album. And the big question behind this gradual progression from zero to hipster hero is, Is it actually that legendary?

The Foster Falsetto. Setting the music aside for the moment (we'll get to that later), what makes and breaks Foster the People is Mark Foster's high-pitch vocals and his remarkable falsetto that mixes well with the synths, eventually losing distinction between the two. But definitely he is more than the falsetto, for his voice suits well FTP's chimera of chill-out, 90's disco pop, and indie rock. If there's an indie and hipster version of Adam Levine, then Foster is a likely candidate to be named as such.

Variety. As with all other indie bands in the scene today, FTP boasts of a music that is ambiguous. On one hand, the use of the guitars and the piano are so soft and static, while the synthesizer screams party all around, coupled with Foster's voice. This not-so-unlikely mix, which can be compared to that of another indie-pop band MGMT, eventually makes "Torches" light and catchy to the point that one would listen to it before sleeping or partying. In either situation, FTP would work well, anyway.

Songs To Listen To? One can appreciate FTP by starting with the three songs in the EP: "Pumped Up Kicks," the all-too-catchy "Helena Beat," and pop upbeat "Houdini." Afterwards, you can move on to "Colour on the Walls," "Miss You," and "Call It What You Want.". And if you can't dance and relax at the same time, you're not too hipster to listen to it.

Here's the official music video for "Helena Beat."





Credits to Pretty Much Amazing for the image and the FTP VEVO Channel in YouTube for the video.