I am a sucker for depressing lyrics paired with bright, poppy soundscapes. For much of the past decade, Of Montreal frontman Kevin Barnes has been my go-to for this type of bi-polar expression. But Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos is challenging him for the title belt with his band’s latest song, “I’ll Be Alright”, off soon-to-be released sophomore album, Gossamer.
Angelakos is a hot mess, bathing his heartache with pills, alcohol and self-loathing ruminations that suggest he’s rolling around in his despair like a pig in its own shit. But the manic electronic stutter and start at the song’s intro and its velvety chorus, in which Angelakos declares he’s fine, act as an exciting counterbalance and invite repeat listens.
So far, Passion Pit is 2-for-2 with its releases off Gossamer. My expectations are growing. Dare I say, this could be one of the year’s best releases? It’s certainly one of my most anticipated because of songs like “I’ll Be Alright.”
