In May we followed Death of Paris through studio journals and updates as they entered Killingsworth Studio in LA to record their first full length album with highly esteemed producer David Baker. In October they released the self-titled debut.
Outstanding Tracks-East or West, Choke, We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead, Rome is Burning
When This Machine is Me dissolved in 2009, Blake Arambula and Jayna Doyle never took their eyes off the prize and quickly started working and writing for their next project. What emerged from the ashes was an album that took the best of what This Machine is Me was and created an album filled with personal lyrics and emotive melodies meshed with pounding beats, melodic keys and churning guitars.
In fitting fashion the album starts off with a slow build into one of the bands most memorable hooks to date. One of Doyle’s forte’s is the ability to write an unforgettable hook and “East or West” proves that the band hasn’t lost their touch, giving fans and new listeners a quick taste of the type of album they are getting themselves into.
The album doesn’t let up, rolling into “Models and Bottles,” a song that was key to the success of This Machine is Me and a fan favorite that carried over. The new version is swarming, with a much more electronically driven sound than their previous recording.
The fourth track on the album is truly unique to Death of Paris and stands out for multiple reasons. “Oubliette” is simply based on a steady electronic beat and piano that set a mood for Doyle’s heartfelt nostalgic vocals. This song is more Rhianna than Metric and adds a human touch to the record.
The album moves smoothly with synths into a hidden acoustic gem with the sixth track on the album titled “Choke.” This has been one of our long time favorites and this recording finally does the song justice. Based simply on acoustic guitar accompanied by strings, Death of Paris delivers one of their most instantly memorable and finest songs to date.
And after all of this, you come to the anthematic hit of the album, the “single” per se “We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead.” This is the song that defines Death of Paris, and features all of the best parts of the band. Driving guitars with synth layered in, a hook that will have you singing all night and a bridge that pulls it all together. “We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead” is a love song written to youth and late nights out and the want for it to never fade.
Fittingly closing the album is “Rome is Burning,” which happens to be one of the bands oldest songs. They’ve said it was a struggle to decide whether this song would make the album, but it is a great song and deserves a nice home. This song shows just how much the band has grown, ending in a strong breakdown that was always a staple of This Machine is Me’s live show.
Listening through this album you catch the hint of so many different bands. At times you hear poppy hooks and synth like Ozma and then they drift into a darker, more slow driving electronic area. Definitely a night time album, perfect for a windows down drive in a city of lights.
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