Tacocat's fourth album, and first for Sub Pop,
This Mess Is a Place is the result of years of playing together as a band; refining their sound and stripping away everything but the biggest hooks, catchiest melodies, and brightest, shiniest surfaces. The quartet worked again with
Lost Time's producer Erik Blood, and for the first time tip their balance of punk and pop decidedly in the direction of the latter. It makes for an almost giddy listening experience as the band romps from one bouncy tune to the next. Slick synths are added here and there, the vocals harmonies shimmer like hot pavement, and the band sound tighter and more powerful than ever. They tap into their inner
Go-Go's and
Josie Cotton quite often, as tracks like "The Joke of Life" and "The Problem" hit that same sweet spot of light and punchy that those artists did in their prime. While the music may encroach on giddiness, the often downcast lyrics create a contrast between sound and content that gives the record a much deeper impact than previous works. There aren't too many jokes to tell when the world is falling apart around you, and the band do a fine job detailing the challenges of the era while making sure to offer some hope as well. The super poppy "Hologram" is an empowering singalong, "Grains of Salt" is a loping, danceable slice of advice pop, "New World" is an insistent power punk track with a hopeful vision, and "Rose Colored Sky" has the kind of expansive, wide-screen chorus that the band hasn't delivered before but certainly nails here. The whole album feels like a big step forward, both musically and emotionally.
Tacocat were a fun, sometimes great band before;
This Mess Is a Place is their most consistent, most impressive, and best record yet and anyone looking for thoughtfully catchy modern guitar pop could do a whole lot worse. ~ Tim Sendra