Release Date: Aug 6, 2013
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Electronic, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival
Record label: Innovative Leisure
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Los Angeles–based Superhumanoids explore life’s dichotomies with the sonically atmospheric Exhibitionists, illustrating the contrast between the masculine and feminine aspects of human relationships through vocals, lyrics and instrumentation. Declaring themselves too young for love, it’s a realization and wisdom one might only ascertain after falling in it and experiencing heartbreak. We’ve always been considered too young, too old, too small, too slow to get what we want, but what matters is that we keep trying.
The L.A. trio Superhumanoids has a serious love of the synthesizer-heavy pop of the '80s, a serious fondness for modern electronic R&B, and the skill to blend the two together into something that sounds good and packs a pretty deep emotional punch in the process. Cameron Parkins, Sarah Chernoff, and Max St. John switch off instruments, share vocal duties, and write the songs together, creating a warm and enveloping version of synth pop that's soft around the edges and has that highly sought-after John Hughes nostalgic feeling.
Remember when Napoleon Dynamite and Deb Bradshaw awkwardly dance to Asheville’s “Forever Young” at the prom in Napoleon Dynamite? As they dance, leaving room for the holy spirit, the stereo reaches the pinnacle of ’80s slow jam, shrouding the dance floor in hazy romanticism. Superhumanoids is a band who could easily sway Napoleon’s thrift shop threads, or even throw his MoonBoots for a loop with more upbeat jams. The bursting foundations of Exhibitionists, the band’s debut album, weave together palm-muted guitar tracks, heavy reverb, and a plethora of synth modes.
Dreaming can be really awkward at times. And, as with most awkward things, you have next to zero control over it. You may wake up next to your devoted lover and realize you just sleep-fantasized about getting sexy with someone else. It’s embarrassing, but you roll over and sheepishly admit it was innocent (and maybe even enjoyable).Superhumanoids’ debut album, Exhibitionists, is like that.
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