Chromeo
(Vice)
I’d half expect Chromeo to be a joke band. Exhibit A: an album cover featuring the not-but-so-attractive duo looking at us from behind keyboards balanced on the disembodied, bare (save for the stilettos) legs of shapely women. Fancy Footwork, get it? And as if self-referencing, goodtime synth-pop, PG-rated sex jams and past-prime ’80s slang (has anybody used the term tenderoni since Vanilla Ice?) weren’t enough, the fact that only a year after its original release, the duo’s sophomore album is getting two-disc deluxe reissue treatment seems more than a bit over the top.
But a few minutes into listening and it’s soon clear that whether Chromeo’s joking or not, the fun of the songs is only occasionally surpassed by their disposability. “Bonafide Lovin” clings to the sounds of the ’80s like saran wrap with its smears of guitar delivering all the urgency of a buddy-cop show theme song as our speaker assures us he’s the superior male for the lady the song is directed toward. And the bouncing, repetitive keys of “Momma’s Boy” recall a sitcom as much as the awkward situation in the lyrics: “Boy you got it so wrong/When you look into her eyes and all you really see is your mom.”
Disc Two, the deluxe part, packs three cuts from Chromeo’s 2004 LP, She’s In Control, and a handful of remixes from the likes of MSTRKRFT, Crookers and DFA that effectively retain the essence of the source material adding enough to divert, but keeping enough to maintain Chromeo’s identity. It’s enough to not feel like a rip-off, but not especially noteworthy as a whole. Singles-wise it’s sure to offer plenty of options for a party mix, especially the DFA remix of “Destination Overdrive,” from She’s In Control, which is more drum-driven than anything else the disc has to offer.
Ultimately, Fancy Footwork is strong enough to stand on its own, with or without a second disc of bonuses. When it meets the dance floor, as the title track suggests, you’ll “maybe do the twerk.” And at that point, it doesn’t matter if Chromeo is sincere or just really committed to their bit.
Standout Tracks: “Momma’s Boy,” “Bonafide Lovin,” “Destination Overdrive (DFA Remix)” BRYAN REED
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