Review Summary: '80s synth pop mastered and expanded upon
The Midnight has been a favorite of mine, also celebrated through family and friends. They're a nostalgic ensemble, weaving 80's basslines and vocal harmonies into a product that stands on its own two funky legs. Their offering unto retro-pop has been graciously accepted and understood, and sometimes, we get a reimagining of the sound, the likes only The Midnight can dream up, and satiate our souls of that old-school sound that just makes the hips
pump. When you think you've had their sound nailed down, they scratch that itch for groovy-yet-atmospheric neon-drenched
bump in ways you couldn't have anticipated, and keeps you coming back for more.
Lyrical hooks that pierce the cheek are ever present throughout this staggering 85-minute runtime, as such is to be expected from these titans of sound. From silky synths and pointed words ala "Sentinels" to the rhythmic and soaring harmonies of "Runaways"; there is very little to scrutinize here. At times the group strays away from their usual 4x4 timing, as demonstrated in "Afterglow Pt. 2"; a welcome toe dipped into liquid DnB that has already been explored by enthusiasts. Saxophone-laden bridges sneak into Vai-era guitar solos that just drip with flavor in tracks like "Shadowverse” and “Friction.” All the while gazing out a windowed wall at inner-city traffic, cigarette in hand and bourbon resting neatly and patiently nearby. Syndicate sets the tone and keeps it going from the first track to the end, and for this listener, it's impossible to not smile while being taken on this journey.
Monsters was a great entry into this group's portfolio, but I feel like
Syndicate is a huge breath of fresh air that encapsulates the reason we keep going back to sound of The Midnight. I intend to see them live in the near future and I hope to see other enthusiasts join me and
shake that booty with me.
