Fresh faced Newmarket, Ontario band Tokyo Police Club are back with their second full length album Champ. The band are known for their energetic indie pop rock songs, and Champ is full of them. But the first single “Breakneck Speed” was an indication that this album would feature more than just fast paced songs. The entire album sounds like a band that is a little more comfortable to deviate from their normal song writing formula. A quick glance at the song lengths is a good indication of this. While the songs of their first LP Elephant Shell was full of sub three minute songs, the majority of the tracks on Champ are over three minutes. With Elephant Shell, it took multiple listens for individual tracks to stand out as many of them sounded similar initially. After a listen through of Champ, the feeling is much different. There are the fun classic TPC songs like Wait Up (Boots of Danger), but also the slower more reflective tracks like Hands Reversed. This progress shows the band is willing to grow and keep things interesting.Bassist and singer Dave Monks delivers lyrics in a rather-of-fact manner telling the ordinary stories of life. Opening tracks Favourite Food and Favourite Colour indicate the causality of the album asking two questions about very ordinary aspects of life the people end up being asked about far too many times in life. The tight drums, the howling background vocals, and the atmospheric shredding guitars all create the sense that the band know what they are doing and are having fun doing it. While it is hard to read a review of Tokyo Police Club without seeing “The Strokes” or “Julian Casablancas”, this band continue to prove that they are not just copy cats or one hit wonders, but rather a band with substance and the ability to put out enjoyable records.
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I agree. Great improvement on Elephant shell, but will the songs last? Hope so. It packs more punch and energy which is great, and the JC reference is spot on.