Review Summary: We are one beating heart
Bolstered by a surge in 80s nostalgia, The Midnight have grown to become one of the leading forces in synthwave. Courtesy of the pulse-pounding videogame "Hotline Miami" and slick retro-futuristic films such as "It Follows" and "Drive", pop culture had suddenly turned the clock back 40 years. But is this nostalgic trend simple tasteless pandering, or embracing the past to make something new? Fortunately, in the case of The Midnight, it's more the latter than the former. Fueled by adrenaline-pumping synth beats alongside sugary-sweet hooks, "Monsters" is a coming-of-age record with enough diplomatic bite to appease listeners new and old.
One of the key differences between this album and The Midnight's earlier material is the pop-heavy songwriting. While they haven't gone in a complete new direction, considering the overt-sappiness of 2018's "Kids", the tenderness of tracks like "Prom Night" and "Brooklyn" is an ambitious, and mostly fruitful creative decision. With lyrical themes revolving around young love, heartbreak, empathy, and social alienation, the reeling optimism of the instrumentals lend plenty of flair to the record as a whole. Emphatic, emotionally-driven hooks can be found around every corner, with plenty of memorability to boot. Take "Seventeen" for instance, a track which binds Tyler's choral refrains with a blooming ecosystem of synth swells, before the crescendo of a superbly-phrased guitar solo. It captures that magic youthful optimism with the utmost integrity, with every element of the songwriting fostered in full. The music puts you in solidarity with every passing generation, nostalgic for memories you don't have, because the emotions it evokes are universal and timeless. "Prom Night" is another such example, filling you with the butterflies of hopeful adolescent romance as the reverb-heavy guitar and synths slowdance into your heart.
Although "Monsters" carries the torch of synth-laden pop with plenty of gusto, there are some welcome stylistic departures and retreads as well. "Helvetica" hypnotizes us in a pulsating maze of tempo changes and dazzling texture, led by a chorus of flutes and rounded reverb. The vocal effects of "Dream Away" elevate the folksy rhythms, whereas they craft an otherworldly atmosphere "Fire in the Sky". The one-two punch of "Deep Blue" and "Night Skies" hits you with a club noir atmosphere, hearkening back to prior works with impassioned flair. The pacing and screaming saxophone of "Deep Blue" lend a cautionary, yet promising outlook on love. The lyrics play on your heartstrings like a grand piano, crafting an immaculate illustration of what it feels like to spark an unexpected connection. With Tyler's gut-wrenching delivery of "I always thought the point of love... was to keep from falling into the deep blue", our protagonist undergoes a profound revelation, realizing love is more than a safety precaution, but rather an experience to be savored. We're reminded the world is vast and overwhelming, but the power of love transcends the material, leaving us weightless and engulfed in euphoria. Having met my own significant other in a situation just like this, "Deep Blue" hits extra close to home, and is easily my favorite cut of the record.
While "Monsters" is by no means a perfect record, there's plenty to chew on for those with a taste for pop-centric synthy fun. The length could be an issue for some, and I think the album would've benefitted from more edits, especially the interludes. The bass drum in "America Online" is too high in the mix, creating a distracting thump in your skull with every beat. Tyler's lyrics, while very effective at times, can sometimes be a bit cheesy and repetitive. Yet, for all the drawbacks, "Monsters" is still an exemplary synthwave release, elevated by dynamic songwriting and production, engaging emotional resonance, and a fully-realized musical vision. It's a stirring, hopeful work that topples boundaries with a palpable sense of community. Regardless of what generation we grew up in, where we come from, or what we look like, the message remains the same - we are one beating heart. Thank you for reading!
