Thursday, December 4, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #17

#17 - Foster the People - Coming of Age

Foster the People found themselves on the outside looking in with their 2011 hit "Helena Beat", but at the time I was less than impressed with their CD "Torches". Fast forward to 2014, and Mark Foster and the boys have put together a great follow-up pop disc. "Supermodel" is just as weird as it's predecessor and almost has a Vampire Weekend feel in it's weirdness, but Foster the People have carved out a unique sound of their own which mixes dancy synths, poppy choruses and pulsing drums. Other standout tracks include "Are You What You Want To Be?", "Ask Yourself", "A Beginner's Guide To Destroying The Moon", and the '80s themed "Coming of Age".

From the opening keys, you know that you're going to be in for a fun song with "Coming of Age".  The guitars are airy, the snare is loud, and the message is potent. The video has a crazy '80s flair to it as well, with throwback clothes and graphics and lots of bright colors to boot. It follows a bunch of teenagers around as they struggle to deal with their "coming of age", and the song brings an interesting retrospect into Mark Foster's life and recent years. It's a very personal song, and despite it's fun and fancy sound, it definitely hits home with anyone who has looked back on their life and realized that everything around them is changing and they have to move to keep up with those changes. The message also works well with the band as their sound and lyrical work matures. I look forward to whatever Mr Foster and the boys have coming next.







Title: Coming of Age
Artist: Foster the People
Album: Supermodel


Previous #17s
2013: Sevendust - Decay
2012: Morning Parade - Headlights
2011: Lonely Island - Jack Sparrow (Ft Michael Bolton)
2010: Slash - Baby Can't Drive (ft Alice Cooper + Nicole Scherzinger)
2009: DevilDriver - Another Night In London

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