Radon Reviews: Adaline “Modern Romantics”
It takes about a grand total of five notes for Adaline’s Modern Romantics to present itself: an off-center pop album set inside of some futuristic cabaret. The album does more than just that, but the pulsing electro beats of “That’s What You Do Best” have their own place among the distorted guitars just as the dark horn section of “Lovers Collide” fits in to the scheme of things like a modern pop song mixed with the Peter Gabriel albums of yesteryear. Still with all that experimentation, Modern Romantics never really feels as if it’s pushing boundaries.
The Latin, percussive beat of “Silent Prayer” versus the soft piano of “Heartache” is just one of the many contrasts an album that under most circumstances could be called experimental or avant garde. But Adaline manages to be just as familiar as unexpected, even if the lyrics and rhythms aren’t anything overly complicated or daring. This is music you’re supposed to dance to, and there’s just the added benefit of being able to dance to almost every track differently.
Toward the middle and again at the end, Modern Romantics lost my attention a bit the first time through, and I wasn’t blown away and immediately compelled to play it for anybody within earshot. Still, I can’t say the album has a single song that isn’t worth listening to, from the almost Metric-like “The Noise” to the serenading “Cost Is Too High (Not To Love).” If you want something new to listen to that could fit right in with all the songs you’ve heard your entire life, Adaline is certainly not risky in checking out.
