Downtown
2009
Miike Snow
About This Album
To get the formalities out of the way, Miike Snow is not a singer/songwriter named Mike. Miike Snow isn't even a he, actually. It's an indie-electro pop trio, made up of singer Andrew Wyatt of Fires of Rome and Swedish (hence the double "i" in the name) mega producers Chris Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, otherwise known as Bloodshy & Avant. Those familiar with Bloodshy & Avant's track record -- working with Britney Spears, Madonna, and Kylie Minogue -- will know that they're capable of making top-notch pop gloss geared for the dancefloor. But the question here is, "can they create music that isn't designed for club-goers and teeny boppers?" With their self-titled release, they do make light, inoffensive pop with twinkling synths and unshakable choruses, but it's a pretty substantial shift in style from their past gigs. Consistent throughout, the album's more suited for a coffee shop or a Sunday morning drive than a night out with the girls, with its fill of slick mid-tempo beats and Swedish twee glee. Starting with a hook that doesn't sound too far off from a Vampire Weekend cut (not a surprising reference point, since Miike Snow's repertoire of remixes includes a version of "The Kids Don't Stand a Chance"), dubby synths circulate around flighty vocals with heavy sentiments: "I change shapes just to hide in this place, but I'm still, I'm still an animal.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,7,8 and 9)

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