I really adore this album, it's astoundingly refreshing despite being very 80s... Like Arcade Fire, Toto, Crystal Castles, church choir and Disney soundtrack put into a Moulinex blender.

 

Also interesting that "Intro" is one of the best songs here, and "Midnight City" obviously is still perfect.

 

'Reunion' is the next single out in February.

 

A choice we can ALL be happy with I think.

Midnight City is Pitchfork's best track of oh elevenn

 

01. M83: "Midnight City" The strange career arc of M83 has seen Anthony Gonzalez move from epic drones to futuristic bombast to romantic new wave. Though there are clear threads, it's been a process of zooming in, from expansive and open-ended drift to small, tightly-packed nuggets of pop emotion. And that long movement over the event horizon leads to "Midnight City", M83's most powerful and emotionally triumphant track.

 

Gonzalez has been comfortable in the realm of proper songwriting for a while, showing expertise in terms of fitting verses, choruses, and instrumental bridges into tracks you might play alone at a piano. But what's most striking about "Midnight City" at first is that a huge part of its story comes from sound alone: its four compressed minutes pack in propulsive beats, urgent layers of vocals, loads of catchy synths, an insistent rhythm loop, and a zeitgeist-y saxophone outro that lets it all unravel just when it gets to be too much.

 

Beyond the force of the sound, "Midnight City"'s code is tough to crack. You can listen to it a ridiculous number of times without needing to know what Gonzalez is even singing about. On one hand, it's simply an impressionistic ode to city life, but it also feels like his ultimate tribute to the music that brought him here. He's talked in interviews about the influence of the Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and from one angle "Midnight City" comes off like Gonzalez's "1979". The parallels are there, from the instantly memorable riff to the gentle sense of longing, but "Midnight City" feels like a song destined to move and change as it continues into the future. Rather than tapping into our collective memory, it's a soundtrack for building new ones. --Brandon Stosuy

 

:wub:

Edited December 13, 201113 yr by 152chris

What a PERFECT top 2 they have. :wub:

 

Oh I know. Easily my top two songs of the year as well (but the other way round)

 

I'm pretty sure everyone has attempted the same whenever they hear 'Midnight City'.

 

I'm pretty sure everyone has attempted the same whenever they hear 'Midnight City'.

 

DRINKING IN THE LOUNGEEEE. OMG cannot stop laughing at this.

 

There must be so many ways to sing that chorus. Mine is completely different to his.

 

I'm pretty sure everyone has attempted the same whenever they hear 'Midnight City'.

:wub:

 

:lol:

 

My way is about the same really.

'Midnight City' has been (belatedly) added to Radio's playlist :lol: I'll admit that it took a long time to grow (and the aid of Made In Chelsea) but I really love the song now :wub:

Midnight City got HEAVY rotation on the one random radio station we got in Finland, which was amazing to hear. The album is such a grower too, and doesn't feel as long as it is when I listen through.

I love Reunion, maybe as much as Midnight City - it sounds very Britpop to my ears. Wondering whether it's worth me giving the album a try, are these the two absolute standouts?

Personally I think it's got quite a few poppy tracks that you may like, try OK Pal, Steve McQueen, New Map etc.

 

I really don't know if you would like the album or not, I definitely wouldn't rule it out though.

Personally I think it's got quite a few poppy tracks that you may like, try OK Pal, Steve McQueen, New Map etc.

 

I really don't know if you would like the album or not, I definitely wouldn't rule it out though.

 

I may have to Spotify it then, thanks for the tips!

I love Reunion, maybe as much as Midnight City - it sounds very Britpop to my ears. Wondering whether it's worth me giving the album a try, are these the two absolute standouts?

Check out 'Raconte-Moi Une Histoire'. So charming and lovely.

Yeah there are a few other decent tracks on the double album (as already suggested), and "Claudia Lewis" sounds quite like "Midnight City" so is a good starting point!

 

The album has nothing on Saturdays = Youth though. Just search for "Kim & Jessie". :wub:

That backing vocalist video is amazing! :lol: :wub:

 

This has majorly grown on me and is now living up to all the hype it had!

I'm finally getting the hype for Midnight City as well finally :lol: It hit me today, I was walking home from school and it came on shuffle!

Check out 'Raconte-Moi Une Histoire'. So charming and lovely.

I really don't understand this! I find it far too creepy, not charming and it's got not a lot musically going for it. Would definitely have preferred the speaking to be in French too.

 

Wait is my standout track by a long way. So good.

Midnight City is being played on the radio, and everyone who doesn't really listen to the radio suddenly loves it now. :kink:

Edited January 18, 201213 yr by Ljósið

My hipst0r fingers are burned