Rich People – Harmony

When Rich People dropped “No Age”, I remember intently playing it on repeat—so much that I surpassed 70 plays within a few days. It was clear the band was taking on a new direction—poppier, certainly, but to much acclaim. It was triumphant, a pleasant move for a band that relies a fair bit on despondency.

Now, the band is back with their biggest album to date—the 13 track epic Harmony. The album brings “No Age” and fellow singles “Joy Notes,” “Kathleen,” and “Moving Parts” into a strong anthology of pop-emo tracks. There’s still an edge of seriousness, but it’s balanced out by a sense of wonder, love of life, and the pride of moving forward.

The opening track, “Contrast,” is a casual nod to “Dream Envy,” where we see Robert Rich acknowledge his past while looking forward all the same. Circumstances may not have changed completely, but Rich has a new paradigm to take on life. It’s hopeful and humble; Rich makes peace with his role in the world and his shortcomings but is ready to face these headfirst.

“Contrast” crescendos into “No Age,” shifting the tide even further in favor of hope. It’s no mystery why this was chosen as a single—it has a huge chorus, and everything about it is refreshing. The band’s use of dynamics is front and center.

“Joy Notes” continues down this path, adding in some autotune on the opening notes. It’s details like this that add a sense of novelty to Harmony. It’s still a rock album, but the pop elements are certainly done well. Even the accompanying music videos are light-hearted and fun. “Who knew that I could find joy too?” Rich ponders as the song comes to a close. It’s an appropriate question, but the joy is definitely plastered across the album.

That’s not to say the hopefulness is cheesy or overdone; in some cases it’s more subtle or hidden in ambiguous sentiments. “Kathleen” is a good example—it feels a bit moodier than some of its counterparts, at least for moments, but the lyrics are full of thankfulness like, “You are the one, the loving hand that built the sun.”

“Fairmount” is maybe the one exception to the rule. It’s minor-key and the lyrics are pretty dark as well—”Sometimes these church basements are the only space between my friends and overdose.” Its piano base only adds to the eeriness. It’s a somber, barren ballad.

“Play” is an interesting track, with its wooden percussion opening. It’s a move we’ve seen many times in the pop world (Justin Bieber’s “Say Sorry,” for example), but Rich and friends only ever seem to tease their pop side before reigning things back in for rhythmically-tight rock. The track is laced with ornamental keys that cement the cinematic feel.

The album closes on “Moving Parts,” another ballad-type track. This time, guitar is front and center instead, and the vibe is very much singer-songwriter. While it’s not a bad track, it’s a bit disappointing that it’s the final statement of an album full of lush guitar, soaring choruses, and layered intricacy. We’re set to anticipate something even bigger and dynamic, but instead Rich closes the album in the most minimalist way possible.

Ultimately, Rich and friends continue to craft beautiful, emotional rock. Harmony is a good change of pace with a brighter vibe and a certain sense of levity and fun. It’s not unlike Pianos Become the Teeth’s Wait for Love, where they balanced out the heaviness of previous releases. Harmony is well-rounded, catchy, and lush; it might not fit your expectations of how Rich People should sound, but it’s also not an unnatural evolution in sound. Here, we see the band at their finest, setting the bar high for other rock albums set to release this year.

Follow Rich People on Facebook and YouTube.

Check out these related articles:

The Dandy Warhols – Rockmaker

The Dandy Warhols – Rockmaker

It's always an adventure when you dive into a band for the first time that you've been peripherally aware of for years but have never given a fair...

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *