The Naked and Famous

In Rolling Waves (Fiction, 2013)

Passive You, Aggressive Me (Somewhat Damaged, 2010)

This Machine / No Light EPs (Trip Mars. 2008)

Passive You, Aggressive Me B-sides (Somewhat Damaged, 2013)

Reviewed by Null

            I had to write a review of this band because they have invaded my consciousness. A few months ago, my lover/partner of 20 years, approached me to make me listen to a song she had heard on the college radio station in our town. She has a weakness for female-fronted indie bands—as long as they have a catchy riff and heavy beat that makes her feel like she is “being fucked by music.” Upon listening to the track, I understood the attraction to the music. It was romantic, youthful, and filled with a weary enthusiasm of life and unwavering hope. However, the music had an emotional intensity that resonated deeper than your average indie pop combo; it exuded the Whitman motto, “Carpe diem.” The song was called, “Young Blood” from their 2010 album Passive Me, Aggressive You, and it begins with an infectious beat and an angelic female voice singing, “We're only young and naive still / We require certain skills / The mood it changes like the wind / Hard to control when it begins.” As a manic-depressive romantic, I immediately felt a pang in my chest. I thought, well, so it is another indie band with a great single but the album is probably rubbish.

            As I knew my partner was basically playing the song for me to induce me to get the record for her, I picked up the record the next day. I threw it in the CD player as I pulled out of the parking lot. I figured I would give it a listen. I didn’t even tell my partner that I had purchased the CD for her until 3 days later, as I refused to give it up. 

            When I finally gave the CD to her, I told her it was great and immediately bought their latest album, In Rolling Waves. It, too, was excellent. Rarely, even with my favorite bands, am I smitten upon a first listening. It takes me time to acclimate. However, The Naked and Famous hooked me after only the first 2 or 3 minutes. The band preyed on a list on my weaknesses. Though I tend toward darker themes in music, such as, socially conscious punk rock and world weary songwriters, I have always had a weakness for male/female fronted bands that sing break up songs—combine this with sweet synths and 80’s stylings and I am doomed. The Naked and Famous fulfill these criteria, and then some. Once you moved beyond the obvious hits, the band has much more to offer. Their music is a tapestry of rich textures and glorious harmonies.

They are a five-piece band originally from New Zealand. They recently moved to Los Angeles to further their musical endeavors, which, honestly, seems like a mistake. As previously mentioned, they have male and female lead vocalists that often sing together or sometimes alone, depending on the track. They use many synths and keyboards that are weaved together with analog instruments, like distorted guitar, bass, and drums. One of things I love about the band is that they seem to serve the song. If the song requires a dreamy synth to reach perfection then they follow that line of thinking. If the song needs a fast beat and distorted guitars to reach perfection, consider it done. They are masters of the pop hook and often combine these into vocalized hypnotic meditations. They are dreamy and capable of creating walls of guitar distortion backed by beautiful melodies and big beats. In this way, they are akin to the beautiful blistering sonics and dynamics of The Joy Formidable with an added electronic element.

Simply put, the Naked and Famous are pop geniuses. They are at once, visceral and cerebral. Just when you think they couldn’t possibly add another swooning hook to an already angelic song, they do just that. They are unstoppable. They are the greatest 80s band that weren’t around then. It’s like The Human League had children, except that they don’t really sound like them. They’re kinda like M83 but a million times better—more rock. Somehow they weave the best elements of dance, electronica, shoegazing guitar chaos, and gorgeous thoughtful melodies into one package. What do they sound like? They are life affirming. Are they a dance band? A little bit. Are they a pop band? Yes. Are they a rock band? Yes. Do they make beautiful contemporary music? Definitely. Trust me; they stand out from their contemporaries.

They have had some pretty big indie hits. “Young Blood,” “Punching a Dream,” and “Hearts Like Ours” have garnished a lot of college radio airplay. They have appeared on many late night shows. They have had some of these songs appear on TV shows and I think they have a song on a commercial. This is all very disheartening to me, but the albums are so good that I overlook these disappointments because, at this point, I don’t think I could live without this band. I have drunk the Kool-Aid and I savored every drop. Sure, I can see this band being eaten up by sorority girls and boys all over the country, but who gives a shit? A great band is a great band. I was also initially worried because the band looked too clean. They could be one of the most hygienic bands I have ever seen, which make their occasional use of the word “fuck” that much more effective. I watched a few interviews with the band and regardless of all the media attention, they don’t seem like media whores like many of their contemporaries and they seem really down to earth and humble. They are a bunch of beautiful young people in the prime of their lives. Turn it up. “Sing like no one is listening, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like it’s heaven on earth.”―Mark Twain

On a side note, the problem with electronic instruments is that they tend to alienate the listener, in my opinion, due to their inorganic nature. However, there are a few artists that use electronic instrumentation and somehow make them sound human and organic. Bjork comes to mind. The Naked and Famous also imply this technique effectively. Though there are many electronic instruments—the music still feels warm and organic. The lyrical content seems to revolve around love and life. They sometimes slip into dark, quit corners and the issues of loss and heartache are not absent. Passive You, Aggressive Me is a little more upbeat, while In Rolling Waves tends to be a little more ethereal and dreamy. If you check this band out and they move you, be sure to not miss the two EPs from 2008, This Machine and No Light, as well as the Passive You, Aggressive Me B-sides, that are, unfortunately, only available digitally, (I reluctantly downloaded them from iTunes). Don’t miss these because the B-side “Sow” is not to be without.

I won’t get into the lyrics or go through the albums track by track. Give them a listen. You will either disregard them as another pop confection that you have no interest in or you will immediately get sucked in and be singing these songs all summer. They may make you want to go for a walk at midnight, make out with your lover, or climb a mountain and go cliff diving.

My partner and I recently saw them in concert at the Boulder Theater here in Colorado. As I suspected, they were great. When the music ended I felt like they were just getting started. I wanted them to play every song. If you get into this band, you will understand. If I ever lose my drive to live, dance, and celebrate, put an icepick in my head. 

Boarders and horizon lines

We’re alone but side by side,

We’re yet to dream,

We’re yet to dream,

Nothing here is what it seems…

Half awake and almost dead,

Keeping empty beds elsewhere,

We’re yet to bleed,

We’re yet to bleed,

All the time and energy.

In silence…

Take me to the edge of night,

Till the dawn,

The end of time,

Till the fire blazing light,

Shines again within our eyes.

—From “Hearts Like Ours”

Yep. I’ll stop aching when I’m dead. This band is too good to be a guilty pleasure.