New Politics -Vikings

The New Politics first release was a bit punk-pop rock with attitude, their second was more dance rock with radio sensibility, and with their third release, Vikings, the Danish rockers have found a happy medium between the two styles.  Every time I listen to this album I feel like I am hearing the perfect New York City end of summer soundtrack.  The New Politics have the rare ability to capture the intensity and fun of their live shows in the studio recordings.  Kicking off this party is “Everywhere I Go” with it’s fist raising opening.  Full of attitude, the lyrics are basically a thank you to their fans and a fuck you to their detractors.  The beat is so good, you struggle with whether you should dance or jump around to the song.  The sound lowers right before the chorus giving the listener a chance to catch their breath, then right back up to jumping around.  “West End Kids” follows it up with infectiously catchy lyrics that I dare you to try not to sing along to.  Even with it’s slower tempo, the song really makes you want to move long with the beat.  Clocking in at just over three minutes, like most of the songs on the album, you never get a chance to find the song repetitious but just short enough to leave you wanting some more.  Perhaps the most danceable track with it’s total sex vibe is “Girl Crush.”  It definitely has a clap along quality while David Boyd is singing about a girlfriend falling in love with another girl.  Everything is up tempo and electric, including the beats.  My favorite track is “Lovers In A Song.”  A slightly western-esque guitar with a bit of crooning while the beat keeps a slightly faster tempo.  It is a unique mix of sounds that work.  There is a very brief electric change in the music, then back to mellow while “morning comes the sun is yours, but I’ll be gone so dry your tears we still lovers in a song.”  I’m not sure that I can say why, but every time I hear “15 Dreams” I feel transported to NYC.  Opening fast with it’s almost rap-like verses, the choruses slow things down, then right back up again.  There is a very vivid dream chasing feeling to the words that the music compliments near perfectly.  The easiest way to describe most of their music is fun and that is exactly what “50 Feet Tall” is.  A sex-as-a-drug-addicted song, the guitar has an old school seventies sound with more danceable beats.  This is another album highlight that requires multiple listens.  “Pretend We’re In A Movie” has a very familiar sound to it, like you have heard it before.  An acoustic opening that quickly turns into a sing along song.  While not my favorite song, it completely succeeds in capturing a live recording feel to it that connects with listeners.  In the same style and vibe as “Everywhere I Go,” “Loyalties Among Thieves” arrives with a very aggressive sound that lends itself more to the punk influences.  Once again, there are parts that scream for you to sing along while keeping that rebellious sound.  The only real problem with the song is that they have mastered the danceable punk sound so well that if there isn’t something additionally unique to the song, it can become forgettable.  A bit of a love song, “Stardust” uses all of their musical weapons.  Beautifully timed piano, synths that pull the listener in, and lyrics that tell a dreamy love story.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see this as a single sooner as opposed to later.  Then things go in the other direction on “Aristocrat.”  Back to the harder punk sound, this song has more of that attitude found on their first album.  The opposite side of the love song, this one has that “Miss Penthouse dynamite is cyanide” not exactly the kind of girl you want to bring home vibe.  But somehow they make it still sound fun and danceable.  Rounding out this short thirty some odd minute release is “Strings Attached.”  A total hard hitting drums in your face punk song lasting about a minute thirty, the rest of the near twelve minute track sounds like a bunch of guys goofing around in the studio having a blast doing what they do.  Maybe not the best way to end a rather impressive album, but at least you know these guys don’t take themselves too serious and can still have fun.  While comparisons can be drawn to bands like Panic At The Disco and 30 Seconds To Mars, the New Politics bring their own twist to that sound.  David, Soren, and Louis may not write music for every audience, but they certainly understand the one they are writing for.  Vikings is fun and worth the listen.  Every song matches the energy of their live shows, which you should also check out if there are in a town near you.