Fitz and the Tantrums has ‘All the Feels’ …Or Does It?
It’s been a week since I’ve had a chance to digest All the Feels, the latest release from Fitz and the Tantrums, which is the band’s fourth studio album. I’ve been a mild fan of them for the better part of five years now and finally got to see them live this past summer when I definitely got the Fitz fever. Without question, they put on one of my favorite performances I have had the privilege to experience in person. Their energy is infectious, but does this latest recording bring that same positive punch?
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The new record, All the Feels, which came out on September 20th, delivers 17 tracks clocking in at 52 minutes. There is an unmistakable diversity on the group’s latest effort as it traverses more upbeat, catchy areas with ‘123456’ and ‘I Need Help!’ to the more relaxed and contemplative waters of songs like ‘Don’t Ever Let Em’. It’s not a deep journey through All the Feels, though there is plenty of music here for the $7.99 I nabbed it for on iTunes.
With all of that being said, I just can’t help but feel like there is not enough on this album to provide the longevity that More Than Just a Dream gave us. This is a very pop album and one that I feel does not anchor itself with the staying power of its predecessors. There are moments when All the Feels comes across a little over-produced and even a little repetitive. I know what you’re thinking. How could it be repetitive when I just said it was diverse in its sound?
While the moods within the songs can vary, those songs can still sound rather similar to one another. I suppose the best way to put it is there isn’t a whole lot here that is an attention grabber. Without question I am certain this album sounds great live, which is an environment that Fitz and the Tantrums thrives in. Here, however, we have some entertaining tunes interlaced with several forgettable ones.
