Album Review: Saturdays = Youth - M83
Friday, April 25, 2008 at 08:22AM The cult film Donnie Darko contains a scene where the camera films the occupants of a school going about their business in slow motion to the sounds of Tears For Fears' 'Head Over Heels'. The combination of the extraordinary sounds and camera work in combination with the somewhat ordinary subject matter to lift this small section to a place that makes it rank as one of BlackPlastic's favourite scenes in a film, ever. Saturdays = Youth as an album feels the same, like a slow-motion dream of your teenage years observed with the benefit of hindsight.
Given that this is the very thing M83 sought to capture it is instantly clear, in one respect at least, that their latest album is a success. Don't let BlackPlastic undermine the beauty of the songs themselves though - 'Kim & Jessie' is the closest M83 have come to being a pop band yet and has single all over (SebAstian remixes please!) whilst 'Skin Of The Night' is eighties shoe-gazing at its best.
The excilerating rushes of Before The Dawn Heals us may have gone but in their place is a delicate, refined and somewhat melancholic sound. Cinematic in nature, Saturdays = Youth sounds not just like Donnie Darko but is reminiscent of all those eighties teen movies... This album is your own Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, even exhibiting touches of Bret Easton Ellis' Less Than Zero. It is the feeling when you are 15 that nothing is more important than whether you get laid next Saturday at your best friend's party. Combine this album with the Teenagers' recent Reality Check and you have two superb albums to soundtrack a youth that carry a sense of wonder that trancends the moment of youth itself, capturing what it felt like to be young no matter how old you may be now.
If Tears For Fears had taken over the world rather than writing 'Woman In Chains' it would have sounded like this.
BP x
Reader Comments (2)
Just been browsing M. Gonzalez's site. Saw this and laughed my arse off.
"Statement regarding events at M83's performance at the Wexner Center, Columbus, OH on the 18th July 2009.
I've been thinking about the events that happened at the end of show in Columbus last Saturday. Time and distance has given me the space to realize that my actions were clearly inappropriate. I wish to emphasise that inviting the crowd on stage was in no way calculated but simply a result of being caught up in the intensity of the moment and essentially celebrating what I believe had been a very positive and enjoyable performance for both the band and the audience. In retrospect though I understand why such actions were not the wisest and why the staff at the venue had requested me not to encourage the audience on stage. I sincerely apologize for the way I handled the situation, and in particular for trying to physically interfere with security staff at the venue who I fully accept were only trying to do their job of ensuring proper protection for both the band and members of the audience.
My reactions in the heat of the moment have caused me much regret and once again I offer my sincere apologies to all persons concerned with the show and at the venue. I feel that it is important to issue a public apology as I do not wish my actions to be perceived as in any way as condoning or encouraging aggressive behaviour.
Anthony
24th July 2009"
Graveyard Girl sounds quite nice. Not had a chance to listen to much of it yet. x
Nice story... All about getting caught up in the moment. Have a proper listen, I think you would like it... Maybe not as much as Before the Dawn Heals Us, but still...