Search - Passion Pit :: Chunk of Change

More than their foot in the door

Matthew C. Geiger | Washington, PA USA | 11/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't often put much credence into an EP as a band's entrance into the musical world. But you have to start somewhere. And Passion Pit has that certain magic that I find infectious and has mass appeal. As a minor disclaimer, I'm going to echo a bit of Pitchfork's review of the album, but we often think alike.



First off, I think this album sounds just plain happy, and it does what good music is supposed to: make you think and dance all at the same time. Modern electronica never sounded so good, but it's hard to really say what their intention is with this being just an EP. It covers a lot of ground. To Passion Pit's credit, and as I discovered in my reading, this album, minus the last track, "Sleepyhead," was intended for a single person. A kind of love letter, as it were. Despite that, it communicates a message that goes beyond a single-person audience. David Bevan says it best in his Pitchfork review, "Given the notion that Angelakos initially expected just one person to really listen, the record benefits heavily from that which a lot of us look for in sound or elsewhere: emotional authenticity." Maybe it's just catching lightning in a bottle, but I find it hard to believe that such raw creativity is accidental.



As for similar musical interests, I've seen Passion Pit as being a mixture between the high-pitched, creatively sweet vocals of Postal Service with a smattering of the synths and sampling that give The Avalanches their unique personality (though, admittedly, the sampling is kept to a minimum here). But I don't want to take away from the truly authentic sound they've created. It's hardly a mash-up of already-known bands, and I think their future is wide open.



"Sleepyhead," the one song that was not intended for its single-person audience, shows a breadth of talent and construction that propels it past the previous five tracks. You are shocked awake with the "sleeping giant" quality of "I've got Your Number" and "Smile Upon Me," with their slow, easy starts that lead into cacophonous climaxes, but "Sleepyhead" makes you sit up and pay attention to just what kind of songs Passion Pit has constructed.



All in all, I've never been this impressed by an EP since TV on the Radio's "Young Liars" EP. This is a solid half hour of electronica magic. Give it a listen!"

Prelude to "Manners"

Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 07/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Passion Pit, the brainchild of Michael Angelakos, has created one of the biggest buzz in 2009 of any indie-music bands out there (not unlike, say, Vampire Weekend last year) with its widely acclaimed debut album "Manners". But before "Manners" came this EP. Urban legend has it that Angelakos made a tape as a Valentine's present for his girlfriend (the 4 first tracks on here), which then got passed around, and eventually landed him on Frenchkiss Records.



I'm surely among many others who is listening to "Chunck of Change" (6 tracks; 29 min.) after having fallen for "Manners". As such, this EP is an intruiging look in a band's musical growth. All of these songs were recorded in March/April 2007 (and eventually released on this EP in the Fall of 2008). They truly feel like a band (a one-man band at the time) searching and trying out sounds. Take for example the opener "I've Got Your Number", which sounds like some guy needling at home with his computer and keyboards (which is what it was probably was like). "Smile Upon Me" resonates much better. "Cuddle Fuddle" is one of the highlights on here, a trippy tune featuring mellotrons (or a good recreation of it). Not surprisingly, the last 2 tracks are the best on here, they are: "Better Things", reminding me of the early Jackson 5 of all things (if they were electronic), and "Sleepyhead", the best track on here (and the only song to also be included on the "Manners" album).



In all, this is a must for any Passion Pit fan. Sure, the "Manners" album is better, but this EP is quite the find as well. I was supposed to see Passion Pit at Bonnaroo a few weeks ago but events outside my control prevented me from doing so, but I'll be seeing these guys at the Monolith music festival (at the Red Rocks outside of Denver) in September. Can't wait for that."

Cutting edge of electro pop

K. Daubert | 03/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't express how much I love this band. This EP is addictive. THe lyrics are intelligent and the beats catchy. The lead singer pretty much single-handedly made the EP as a Valentine's Day present for his girlfriend. Amazing. They were also on the long list for the BBC Sound of 2009 award. Only great things to come for this band."