It seems most new bands on the horizon try to categorize themselves as indie pop,\ attempting to capitalize on the sound produced by many of their popular contemporaries. This is not the case with The M's and their sophomore album, Future Women. They are reminiscent of '60s garage rock, but they have modified it and added a mixture of their own elements, which separates them from the rest. This is the Chicago band's first release since making the switch to their new label, and it elevates them to the ranks of rock's modern-day elite. Their style and approach are unique and powerful, generating an elaborate, dynamic sound apparent throughout their record.
Throughout the album, the band relies on vocal harmonies, lush instrumentation and distorted guitars. Their overall sound seems to stem from a number of influences, ranging from The Beatles to The White Stripes, but they maintain a distinct method of constructing songs.
They start the album strong with ""Plan of the Man"" and build up to an up beat tempo and catchy, danceable track. It is clear from the first beat that The M's are on the right track in creating an incredibly tight record. ""Trucker Speed"" lends itself to even more distorted guitars, and when strings come in they pull the song in a completely new direction. This song has a number of components that create a wall of sound. It is at this point they slow things down a bit with ""Light I Love,"" a delicate track showcasing their musicianship while they add beautiful harmonies and strings. This song seems to come out of nowhere, but it ends up fitting perfectly into the record.
""My Gun"" quickly turns on the distortion again with a melody that is easy to like and a hook that is hard to forget. Future Women increases in speed and sound for the last half of the album, with the exception of the title track. This song begins with layers of vocals, until distortion slowly seeps into the mix. From this point on, intricate instrumentation, heavily-laden distortion and vocal layering continue until the end.
What makes Future Women so brilliant is the fact that The M's are not afraid to take chances, push the boundaries of sound and blend a number of genres. The M's are able to go one step further and create something incredibly meaningful that sounds full, well-produced and unique. Their passion, energy and attention to detail exhibited in Future Women will allow them to expand their following beyond Chicago and elevate them to greater heights.
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