There are times when you just need to pop a Grouplove CD in your car and take a long drive. Grouplove’s lyrics about the beach and aliens, which are sung, and some-times shouted, are a great way to destress. Grouplove is fronted by both a male and female singer, Christian Zucconi and Hannah Hooper (who are also married and have a baby), and backed up by three other very important members. The band just released its third studio album “Big Mess” on September 9 and are currently on tour.
Grouplove is the ideal hippy-dippy band (there’s even a song with the line “I’d rather be a hippy than a hipster” on its second album). The members wear pastels, oversize clothing, have long hair, and sing obscure lyrics. The members’ looks are a pretty fair reflection of the music they make. The album opens with the alternative hit of the summer “Welcome to Your Life,” starting off slow and moving right into what fans came for. The first line of the song is “we’re back in business,” signifying the reign of the ultimate indie-rock-synth-dance band to ever be featured on radio waves. “Welcome to Your Life” gives fans exactly what they liked on the band’s first two albums – pops and surges of music, scream-singing, joy, and, of course, a catchy chorus and hook, but overall the album is just good and does not have a lot of stand-out tracks like the band’s previous two albums do. The eighth track, “Traumatized,” is a touching song about Zucconi and Hooper becoming parents.
Although slower at times, the band still has its hyperactive and overactive moments of bliss and enjoyment. This album needs more than one listen to really find its place in your heart. You may find yourself humming along to a song, but won’t remember what song it is because the songs blend together too well. There’s always going to be a place for the explosive guitar solos and the screaming on a Grouplove album though. Although not my favorite new album of the year, I'm looking forward to hearing the album when they visit House of Blues Boston in November.