Misterwives (2019)

One Liner: That band with the infectious disco-ish Reflections song from 2017.

Wikipedia Genre: Indie pop, pop, alternative dance
Home: NYC

Poster Position: 10

Both Weekends.

Thoughts:  Pop rock.  You've likely heard their hit single, even if you don't know who this band is.  I certainly didn't know that this band was called MisterWives when I first reviewed them a few years ago.  Their top listened-to and most-popular on Spotify is "Reflections." In 2015, is had almost 32 million jams on Spotify, but that number is up to 102.5 million in 2019.  They've definitely hit the nail on the head for getting one massive hit out there.

When the chorus kicks in, with one million pounds of disco dance slinky fury, you are physically required by human biology to move.  I mean, if that doesn't make you want to dance a little bit, or at least bob your head, or just tap your toe for crying out loud, then you should see a doctor.  That stuff is silly good.

The band has two albums, 2017's Connect the Dots, 2015's Our Own House, and an EP from 2014.  Their second most listened to track on Spotify is called "Our Own House," which is not nearly as instant ear candy pantheon worthy as "Reflections," but still has a pretty great disco-funk, horn-fueled beat.  Just over 11.5 million spins back in 2015, but now up to 83.9 million.  So, pretty damn popular.

The majority of the 2015 album is good fun stuff (check the strong ass "Hurricane"), and the rest is also good, just more somber (i.e. "Coffins").  Their live Spotify sessions album on Spotify has some talking, and the lead singer notes that their band name is a play on the concept of sister wives since the band is one lady and four dudes.  I have to say, the acoustic version of "Reflections" is nice and all, but you lose major factor of fun.  

The band was formed in 2012 when the singer had decided that she wanted an 80's cover band for her birthday party.  "Reflections" blew up for them, and they got to tour with all sorts of other up-and-coming bands like 21 Pilots, Panic! at the Disco, and American Authors.

Seems like the new album never got off the ground though, as it has been out for two years and yet none of the songs has a major stream count - well, a few have more than 10 million, which is pretty awesome, but nothing like the big hits, and most of the songs have closer to 1 million or so.  And after hearing "Chasing This" for the first time, I think I know why.  This album is not great.  Wants to recapture the excitement of the old stuff, just has overly full arrangements and mediocre chanted vocals.  In fact, it starts to sound like a modern pop singer stuff, with that pop singer voice and the weird pronunciation that those ladies do.  "Revolution" has that for the first third of the song.  The opening track has the most streams by a large margin, but I'll give you the second-most streamed, "Coloring Outside the Lines."  13.4 million.

Does the best at going back to what made them great in the first place.  But much of this album is not good.  Which probably ought to be obvious when their second most popular song on Spotify continues to be a 5 year old cover of a Vance Joy song.

First album - well crafted, tuneful music that ought to be a blast to see in person.  Second album - bleh.  Although, that disc is two years old, so maybe they're just about to fire up a new disc of great new tunes.  I doubt I'll go check it out.