What Model Citizens: You've Been Set Up

Let me tell you what I like about What Model Citizens - honesty flows from the onset of the new band name to the movement in every shaken groove. What Model Citizens sounds like an invitation to finish the sentence and music encourages this sort of reaction from its listeners. The electro-pop vibe and synthy feel lies under a blanket of edgy vocal like some sort of back door Bauhaus. Hasty like a whip with a promising stroke of inspiration and an electronic clap; it's fun. The Model Citizens provide 42 minutes of fun with songs like the opener, "Don't Talk Down to Me" which mysteriously transforms into "You've Been Set Up" around the two minute marker. Sometimes, the realization of being set up makes one feel good like a surprise party. Again, the poppy-punch in singer Alex Musto's voice adds a post-punk feel, but this is electro pop; difficult to describe, but well worth the ride. Perhaps, the best way to put a finger on this style - as the single "Sleep, Sleep, Sleep" plays with enough energy to wake a house full of heroin addicts - is simply to say an air of European '70s punk carefully and masterfully balanced against the goth, electric styling of bands like Bauhaus.

A sexy undercurrent exists throughout "As the Lights Run Out" and this subverted feeling exploits the harmonies set against crunching chords.

For those who haven't read our previous review, HERE, do yourselves a favor and check out the newly named What Model Citizens and the recent release, You've Been Set Up. Because it's fun that won't ask you to think about why.