Review: TRAAMS – Modern Dancing

TRAAMS
Modern Dancing

FatCat Records
Street: 11.13
TRAAMS = Holograms + Parquet Courts + Wolf Parade

The sophomore album by post-punkers TRAAMS is easily upbeat without sounding cheesy, making it a serious contender for a spot on your next house party playlist—or maybe just a backdrop to washing your dishes the next day. A few things have changed since their debut. The level of reverb that fell like a wet blanket across their sound has been cleared up, allowing for a cleaner, more professional persona to come across. The one pitfall they still fall into is the lyrical content. At times catchy, their lyrics are jumbled up overall as a slur of one-liners that don’t always fit together. But what they give up in continuity, they make up for in the use of vocals as instrument, which clicks with the sort-of Kraut-pop guitar riffs and simple drum melodies. It’s a step in the right direction for the next round of festivals with these Brits. –Brian Udall