Tigers on Trains’ front man, Mason Maggio, repeats, “never get bored!” on the group’s newest record, “Antarctica in Color.” The wish to never be bored is something wholly youthful, both nostalgic and forward thinking. That’s essentially what “Antarctica in Color”is a record established in indie-folk sounds and sentiments, yet incredibly fresh and inventive in execution. Exquisite arrangements, melodies and lyrics push the record above its many competitors. Quality alone, makes “Antarctica in Color” an incredibly strong competitor among the race for the best album of 2014.
Though it’s essentially a waste of your time to read the rest of the review — just go listen to this record instead — I guess I’ll go on to inadequately capture some of the greatness that Tigers on Trains has to offer. Mr. Maggio, the mastermind behind this particular Tiger on Trains record because his partner in crime, Christian van Deurs, is absent this time around.
“Antarctica in Color,” like its very name suggests, deftly investigates a slew of everyday contradictions that cause so much of the emotional hardship in our relationships with others.
The complex lyrical ideas presented, work incredibly well in the context of Tigers on Trains’ simultaneously simple and engaging arrangements. There aren’t any surprises on the record as far as song structures or chord progressions go, and riffs are subtle when they are present. Fingerpicked guitar and soft driving beats form lush, warm backdrops for Maggio’s effortless vocal melodies. However, the vocal hooks and lovely guitar patterns are more than enough to carry each song. Exquisite mixing and production allows each instrument to perfectly inhabit its necessary space, meaning that every instrument shines in every song, no matter how simple its particular part.
it’s quite amazing that “Antarctica in Color” was released the same week as Flying Lotus’s brilliantly complex “You’re Dead,” as the two are both masterpieces with opposing strengths. A truly masterful, emotionally gripping indie-folk record, “Antarctica in Color” is another must-hear record from a ridiculously underexposed artist.
The Fat Angel Sings 