For
Make History,
Thunderbirds Are Now!'s second full-length (and first with Javelins drummer Matt Rickle), the band teamed up with John Schmersal of
Enon as their producer. It's a pairing that makes perfect sense, since they've been tourmates and friends with
Enon for some time, and
TAN!'s sound bares more than a passing resemblance to
Enon and especially Schmersal's previous band,
Brainiac. Yet
Make History isn't exactly the angular guitars and analogue synth frenzy that this collaboration would suggest. Actually, the band goes in a pretty different direction here than either
Justamustache, which perfected the sound they'd been working on since 2002, or the sleazy electronic leanings of the Necks EP. The minute and a half of
Beach Boys-esque harmonies and sleigh bells that begin the album's lead track, "Panthers in Crime," are the first hint that this isn't a
TAN! album as usual, and even when it opens up into shouty rock, it's not nearly as strident and urgent as the band used to be. Softening the corners, fleshing out the melodies, and toning down the shrillness end up working on
Make History as often as they don't: as on "Panthers in Crime," this approach gives the single "We Win (Ha Ha)" an accessible, radio-friendly sheen that suits its hookiness, and that goes double for "Sleeping in the Lion's Mouth," an unrepentantly catchy should-be single with bright, herky-jerky guitars, a slippery synth bassline, and an honest-to-goodness singalong melody. In other places, this sound gets a bit repetitive and, strangely, less immediate than the spazzy dance-punk of their past. "Shake Them Awake," "PPL R ANMLS," and "Sound Issues/Smart Ideas" -- which sounds a little bit like
TAN!'s other former tourmates,
Supersystem -- are all fine, full of plenty of energy but, unfortunately, not especially memorable. Even with their newly expansive sound,
Thunderbirds Are Now!'s keyboards remain their calling card, whether they're sparkly, as on "Open Us Up," or jaunty, like on "Why We War." Keys are also the stars of "Shit Gold," a slow, spooky (but still mischievous) song that is new and promising territory for the band. This is certainly
Thunderbirds Are Now!'s most ambitious album, but it's also their most uneven. However, the best songs here suggest they'll continue to expand and experiment with more consistent results in the future. ~ Heather Phares