Tokyo Police Club have made their name as a unique indie rock band that embodies weird in the best way possible, and their first album in four years, Forcefield is no exception. Singer David Monks leads the Ontario four-piece with his blend of punk and classic rock crooning.
Forcefield begins with “Argentina (Parts I, II, III),” an eight-minute song that transitions smoothly between three movements. The length is surprising for an opening track, but it also provides a showcase for the wide range of the album as a whole.
The first part starts with the energetic edge of a punk song, however halfway through it is stripped down into a mellow ballad. Simple, sparse murmurs of “I don’t want to want you like I want you” over delicate guitar and piano riffs act as an interlude before building back up into a light rock groove as Monks laments that, “If I had only known what you were thinking/I would have been so much nicer.”
The next song is the single off of the album, “Hot Tonight.” The catchy melody and simple chorus makes this song perfect for summer. Carefree lyrics like, “I’ll burn the house down and I’ll leave it behind/I didn’t need the money but the money was nice,” paired with some tasteful high warbling makes the track entirely irresistible.
At first listen “Miserable” may sound like snappy, shallow dance music. But the second time around reveals convincing and stunningly relatable lyrics like, “I am miserable but I am totally blinded by the sun in my eyes/I am miserable and I feel I am the only one who gets this way sometimes.” The result of such an upbeat song about being unhappy is unexpected satisfaction.
The highlight of the album comes on “Toy Guns,” which swings effortlessly between summer beach groove and rock anthem. Monks croons, “Every other kid on the block has a shotgun/I never know the difference between the toy and the real ones,” which is followed by a chirpy piano break before returning to the driving guitar and defiant statement, “I’m liberated enough/I am taking one last look as I leave it to rust.”
In all, Forcefield is adventurous and unafraid, which makes the album well worth the four-year wait.
Rating: A
