Mixed together with the otherwise simple percussion and guitar background, the violin elevates the track, making the final instrumental minute and a half just as enjoyable as the rest of the song.īy contrast, “Madame Van Damme” lacks any of this musical intrigue, and without it the focus falls on the lyrics. On the fifth track, “Faculty of Tears” Hynes brings in yet another delightful instrumental element with the appearance of a violin, plucked lightly under the otherwise a capella chorus and sweeping above the verses. There is so much variety within the musical styles that this diversion seems appropriate, showcasing yet another side of Hynes’ musical smorgasbord. It’s a simple composition, and while the lyrics are as predictable as on the rest of the album-Hynes seems to be striving the use the phrase “I miss you” a record number of times for a four minute song-it is a thoroughly enjoyable slice of nostalgia nonetheless.įollowing on from this is “Intermission,” 39 seconds of unconnected, vaguely musical noises, which somehow work within the structure of the album. In track three, “There’s Something Underwater,” Hynes enters with ukulele chords, leading into a swelling chorus that feels hymnal, reminiscent of an epic Sufjan Stevens’s song. The best tracks are those where the musical background is sufficiently engaging. Most choruses are excessively simple-eight or nine word phrases that are repeated over and over again for the length of time necessary between equally short verses. When this music isn’t enough to carry the song, though, the lyrics are too thin to pick up the burden, and the track quickly falls flat. The musical variety is the greatest strength of “Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You.” No two tracks sound even vaguely similar and this serves to liven up a lyrically simple album. The album’s lyrics are often predictably regular, which is disappointing given the innovative songwriting. It is comprised of angry break-up ballads and swelling choruses interspersed with gentler piano sonatas and strummed ukuleles.
However, “Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You” is a confused record. Hynes has settled down from the first Lightspeed Champion album, 2008’s “Falling off Lavender Bridge,” in which quiet and underwhelming music masked angry self-loathing lyrics. It is too emotionally charged to be relaxed, but too relaxed to be emotionally moving. This variety makes Hynes’ newest album, “Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You,” difficult to classify. His last group, Test Icicles, performed a combination of dance and punk, but now he performs his own blend of folk and indie rock, along with occasionally random sidesteps like an album entirely devoted exclusively to Green Day covers.
#LIGHTSPEED CHAMION SERIES#
Hynes, also known as “Lightspeed Champion,” a name culled from a series of comic strips he once drew, has performed in just about every genre of music imaginable. Within his artistic career it’s even more apparent. His upbringing shows signs of it: Hynes was born in Texas, raised in England and now lives in New York City.
Devonté Hynes can best be described as a dabbler.
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