The Supahip‘s Seize the World is the latest studio project by Michael Carpenter and Mark Moldre. The album, released on Not Lame Records, consists of twelve tracks recorded and mixed in the new-fangled stereo format followed by ten of those same songs in mono. They wanted to fit all twelve, but even modern technology has it’s limitations. Moldre and Carpenter recorded the album taking the laid back approach of showing up early with only a faint concept or a general idea in mind, and having a finished product by the end of the day. This leaves the creative process wide open for anything, but with the focus changing and taking different directions from day to day, it can harm the album as a whole.
The music on Seize the World has been referred to as a retro homage to early-sixties pop. It sounds more like a bouncy novelty album that could teach your three year old how to count or brush his teeth. The lyrics are forced into strict yet sappy rhyming patterns that leads the listener to believe that having the verses rhyme is of far greater importance than any actual meaning being derived from the track. When it seems that there are no more words in the english language that rhyme with night, light, all right, bright, fight, or sight, enter the guitar solo in the key of boring.
The track “Something’s Gotta Give” seems to be The Supahip’s attempt at an edge. They’ve come across a bass line with a little drive and a few buzzing studio tricks, but as the track progresses you realize the track is the undercover cop that tried to sell you pot in high school. Track nine, “the radio”, speaks for itself. It begins with the over done sounds of someone trying to find a station on the FM band and having a little trouble. The song is in the first person, from a radio’s point of view. What it’s like being an AM/FM radio, finally a pop tune that really speaks to the young people.
In the defense of The Supahip, Seize the World, is the type of thing that happens when really, really nice guys(see cover art) with the best intentions get the opportunity to produce there own album. There’s no equal and opposite force leaning on them to go one direction or another in order to create an album with some substance. People generally don’t like being told what to do or how to do it, but some professional direction never hurts. The album is ultra sugary, landing on every pop cliche imaginable. There’s studio time, and there’s playtime. This one’s in line for the jungle gym.
