Your Head Is On Fire – Broken Bells Your Head Is On Fire – Broken Bells

James Mercer fans (lead singer of The Shins) rejoice! The debut album from Broken Bells is finally here! I’ve been listening to it for a while now, and am definitely a fan. One word of advice to fans of The Shins: this album is very different from Mercer’s other material. If you’re buying this album because you’re tired of waiting for a new Shins album, you’re going to be disappointed. Not because it’s less enjoyable, but because it’s very different.

Mercer insists that Broken Bells isn’t a side project, but a new venture altogether, and now I can see why. Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, has created a gem of an album yet again. (He also produced Beck’s Modern Guilt, the Gorillaz’ Demon Days, and all of the Gnarls Barkley albums).

Computer-enhanced instrumentals pave the way for Mercers’ strong vocals that are very recognizable. His voice is so smooth and seems effortless. It’s great! The immense talents of these two musicians are very apparent throughout this album. This becomes obvious as you listen to each song over and over again, letting it steep into your mind. Most of the tracks are complex and include layer upon layer of intricacies. Songs like “Your Head Is On Fire,” “The Ghost Inside,” and “The Mall and Misery“ are perfect examples of this. Each song is utterly amazing, and gives listeners something so different than anything they ever experienced with The Shins.

Broken Bells shines brightest with songs “The High Road,” “Vaporize,”
and “Trap Doors.” These songs are clearly well-thought out, and are brilliant in their simplistic nature. Unlike many songs on the album, these feel stripped down and straightforward.

This record is one of the better debuts I’ve come across in quite some time. This duo of tested veterans provides us with a diverse arsenal of songs that are equally enjoyable. These aren’t songs that you’ll quickly tire of either. On the contrary, actually. I believe this album has actually grown on me. I’m giving it 4 bees. It’s an excellent record that really showcases the talents of both individuals. Below is one of my favorite tracks off of the album.