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Following a recent featured appearance in American hit TV-show Gossip Girl this month sees a re-release of Plastiscines’ second album About Love. However, with only a change in album font colour to be boasted, coupled with a slight price reduction, this does seem like an extreme case of cashing-in. But is this album worth another look?
The sad fact is that it is really not. Over the course of 12 tracks there is a feeling that this group, originally hailing from France, are just not trying hard enough. In the attempt to produce song hooks that will remain with you for ages, they fail to tread the fine line between a truly amazing chorus and repetition for its own sake, instead being firmly entrenched in the latter. Even the best song, ‘Barcelona’, can only be classed as such because it is the only time that they are able to actually construct a decent pop-rock song.
Both in the rockier and in the more downbeat numbers, it really seems like this group are merely painting by numbers rather than producing anything emotionally relatable. The tracks positively exude artifice, and the listener questions whether any of the situations described have actually been experienced, even on an empathic level. It also does not help that this group are guilty of seemingly openly imitating the styling of already established and better acts. Where on their debut LP1 they were referred to as vainly trying to copy The Strokes, their sophomore release has seen them learn from this criticism and emulate a lesser known indie-rock act in the form of The Long Blondes. In fact a recommendation would be to actually cut out the middle man and check out The Long Blondes’ debut album Somebody To Drive You Home which benefits from better song structures, great lyrics and a highly charismatic lead singer. None of which Plastiscines can particularly boast.
With an album that was forgotten upon its release last August, it should be counter-productive not to make an effort to change tactic when pushing for a re-release. As such this album will be unlikely to make an impact the second time round despite the marketing advice that caused them to change their font from purple to red.
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