Review Summary: Have us begging, “New York, New York...”
Stuck -- voluntarily -- somewhere in the between of angular, indie pop bliss and a penchant for noisier, jam-centric songcraft (in both a sweet and technical sense), The New Yorks find comfort in the intermediate. However, as such, the band’s sophomore release,
I Wish I Was You, But That's Just Me embodies something of a riddle. On one hand, there's a lot left to be desired from the band's approach to recording. Often, as is in the case of 'Badman,' the guitars are less versatile than is hinted at in the project's finer moments. Yet, at the same time, the band's pop-inspired approach to songwriting -- laced here and there with some tight, melodic phrasing -- bears an undeniable charm and intoxicating sense of wit.
At its best,
I Wish I Was You is an exuberant demand for attention -- narcissism of the finest kind -- and, for the most part, it deserves that which it anthemises. Yet as kinetic a showcase as it is, the production brings down even the more impassioned of vocal performances, the peppiest demonstrations of instrumental prowess. At its best (see: ‘Truman’),
I Wish I Was You is a burst of exuberance; at its worst, the band sound strained and restrained. A questionable mix on ‘Badman’ spotlights an uneven vocal performance as frontman Vincent Barbaro’s otherwise nuanced, oft-charming cadence is swallowed and obscured amongst the opener’s instrumental swells. It’s a false start to an otherwise fantastic set of tracks.
At its best, however,
I Wish I Was You is spirited and potent.
‘Sir Wolf’ is an indie pop anthem that could rival even Gang of Youths’ ‘What Can I Do..?’ An exciting, albeit melancholic soundtrack to road trips, beach stints, and ice cream dinners. Were Triple J to pick it up over the summer, that is. Its simultaneous attention to detail and the band’s broader pop sensibilities are something to be excited about -- and something to be replicated for future releases. Moreover, ‘We Enjoy This Too Much’ is an apt example of just what the band are capable of in terms of performance: the small instrumental bridge that lifts the song to its conclusion demonstrates The New Yorks’ ability to stitch together varied, in terms of complexity and peppiness, song structures and ideas with ostensible ease. And its chorus exemplifies Vincent’s strengths as a songwriter, as the vocals and lead guitar intertwine and attempt hook the listener with an enviable coolness.
I Wish I Was You, But That's Just Me is, in this sense, a resounding success. With that said, however, the project is no less a riddle, and The New Yorks still have a decision to make:
To ride the coattails of a now mainstream sound -- one that the band is undeniably proficient at in execution -- or capitalise on an ambition that is at once hinted at, though never quite reached for.
Then again, who’s to say the band can’t do both?
