Given that I was in another country last weekend, I did not have the opportunity to immediately listen to I Don’t Know How But They Found Me’s newest album, Gloom Division. And this is an album I was pretty excited about!
Though I didn’t really like the band’s EP, the debut album Razzmatazz, was an unexpected bright spot for me, so I was hopeful for this new release despite losing the only other member. But really, most people only know the vocalists, so I don’t know how much fans will be missing Ryan Seaman. Indeed, Dallon Weekes keeps the spark alive here with plenty of flashy and catchy tracks that I found myself dancing to in my work chair. A success, really. And for that I am happy!
Of course, the lead single that was released, “What Love?,” has been on repeat ever since I first heard it. And upon a second listen without the aid of the creepy and unsettling video, second single “Infatuation,” is also quite good! It’s a bit slower but very groovy, and the addition of Joywave’s vocals just adds a really special layer to it. I know I will be revisiting this one a lot in the future. Another strong track on the album for me was the third single, “Gloomtown Brats.” Nothing like giving people the best of the best to draw them in. That’s not saying at all that the rest of the album is not good, but these three songs are truly the strongest offerings.
I think why I liked a lot of the rest of the album was because it sounded like a mix of songs that could have been made by Weekes’ previous gig, Panic! at the Disco, or even been a part of IDKHOW’s Razzmatazz. There’s also the fact that in certain instances, Weekes’ vocals could sure rival those of Brandon Flowers. I want a collab! Given that some songs sounded like they could have come from the mid-Panic! catalog, I was thinking a lot of the vibe of lounges. In fact, “Find Me” could have been played at Arctic Monkeys’ Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino lounge, as it had a bit of a robot-techno flair to it. Big fan!
The only song that really didn’t do it for me was “A Letter.” After reading a number of comments and doing some light internet research, evidently this song was a bit of a reimagining, or repurposing of a song from Weekes’ first band, The Brobecks. Just based on this track…the Brobecks kind of suck. This was a talk track with, admittedly, a fun and upbeat tune, but it was so out of place with the rest of the record that it seems like maybe it was a mistake that it got into the final track listing. Oh well, I’m sure this pleased a number of fans that will just never include me.
Overall though, a really solid sophomore effort given the band is now a solo project. Gee, history repeating itself isn’t it (talking about you Panic! at the Disco)? If you want some more solid indie music in your life, you’d be hard-pressed to find something as catchy as what IDKHOW has to offer.