The Temper Trap, 'Conditions'

Release date: October 13, 2009
Record label: Liberation/Glassnote
Official Web site: http://www.thetempertrap.net/

The buzz: At South by Southwest in Texas this year, fratty-looking Australian band the Temper Trap blew minds with a mix of Coldplay-strong vocals and Mars Volta-intense instrumental theatrics, scoring themselves U.S. reps and distribution—the results of which can be heard on “Conditions,” their debut.

The verdict: Though the band's raw power has been toned down for the record, “Conditions” retains all the marks of their influences: The Edge-style delayed guitars, Arcade Fire-aping four on the floor beats, and, in vocalist Dougy Mandagi, an instrument of rare range; high falsettos are hit over pulsating back beats, and honest-sounding emoting rolls over subtle instrumental washes. The material's inconsistent—after starting out with a couple of jaw-droppers (notably the “(500) Days of Summer” semi-hit “Sweet Disposition”), the album falls into a bit of a generic rut before rebounding with the ironically titled “Resurrection.” So, it's clear this isn't the sound of a band with a unified vision just yet, but—for a start—they're on the right track.

Did you know? The song “Science of Fear” is a collaboration with mixmaster extraordinaire DJ Shadow.

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