Prosper, they did. In 2011 came the
outstanding sophomore effort Reptilians,
a refreshing mix of electronic and dance music that was designed as “music you
could both listen and dance to.” Apparently plenty of people were doing just
that, as STRFKR’s steady rise into the consciousness of the mainstream
continued.
That rise continues here, with Miracle
Mile, the third and best album from the
Portland quartet. Beginning with opening track and lead single “While I’m
Alive”, Miracle Mile is a blast
from the first few opening bars. That song oozes a confident but not cocky
bravado; Once again, it’s the sound of a band who has found exactly their place
in the music world, and is completely happy and content with the artistic
direction they are taking. It really shines through on “While I’m Alive”,
complete with funky bass and groovy electronic breakdowns. It’s a must listen
to anyone with a working set of ears.
Luckily, the great songs just keep
on coming. Excellent is “Atlantis”, a song that will challenge you to not move
your hips while listening. Its steady drumbeat has Corcoran keeping pace with
the guitars tying things neatly into a dance-friendly package. It’s good stuff,
and will certainly make one wonder “How have I not heard of these guys before?”
Considering the strength of songs
like “Kahlil Gibran” and “Fortune’s Fool”, hopefully fewer people will ask
themselves the aforementioned question. If you like rock, you should check them
out. If you like electronic music, the same applies. Their music is quite
versatile and appeals to a wide audience because of the variances in style that
they exhibit. Speaking of variances in style, there is the atypical STRFKR song
in “Beach Monster”, which as the title suggests, has a beach type influence
that hasn’t been seen in their music before. It’s not a fantastic song by any
means, but the diversity is applauded. There is also the M83-esque “Leave It
All Behind”, which is a new style for them and is something I would enjoy
seeing in the future.
Without question, I consider this
an early favorite for album of the year. STRFKR won’t receive the hype they
deserve because of their band name, and thus the strength of Miracle Mile will be undersold. However, once you get past the
initial shock of the name, you can peel back the layers to reveal an album that
is not only consistent in execution, but also seeping with personality.
9/10