When exploring the niche of indie pop music, it doesn’t take too long to stumble across Fitz and the Tantrums. Their 2013 release “Out of My League” was quickly adopted by the happy–go–lucky Tumblr crowd that year and pushed their name to the top of the genre as a staple summer anthem. Six years later, their sound has only gotten stronger. Their third studio album All the Feels was released this past weekend and indicated the maturity the band is heading toward, still coupled with their youthful sound.
The album opener and titular track sets the project off on an upbeat, colorful note as lead vocalist Michael Fitzpatrick chants “I want to feel just a little / just a little / just a little” on the booming chorus. It captures the soul–searching sentiment that's in line with their previous discography, as it is reminiscent of tracks like “Get Away” off their second album, More Than Just A Dream. However, the following song, “123456,” is a stand–out. Written with long–time friend K.Flay, Fitzpatrick told Rolling Stone that the track was finished quickly as it embodied a clear vision. The chorus is a bubbly breath of fresh air for the group, as it deviates away from their typical production style of quiet verses and uproarious hooks.
On this new album, the band doesn't divert much from the style that first made them popular. Some songs are predictable in nature, such as the forgettable "I Just Wanna Shine." Following down the track list, however, there are several moments that are worth paying attention to when considering the progression of the group.
“I Need Help!” comes across as a confession of a tired millennial stuck in the monotony of the working world, and is valuable more in concept than in lyrical depth. On “Stop,” the desire to repeat the romance of a dying relationship is not an original theme, but it's still authentic, paired with an echoing chorus and reverberating bridge.
Here, the band has struck the balance between being sticky–sweet, yet still serious. The places where they've shone the most on previous projects—with their infectious energy and animated sound—are no longer as exciting. Rather, their newer themes of displacement and dissatisfaction within the day–to–day, such as on “Livin’ For The Weekend,” introduce more nuanced sentiments that the teens who chanted “Out Of My League” can relate to. It does well to pair desire with dance–worthy production.
Overall, All the Feels is nothing new for the group; instead, it's the manner in which the work is presented that makes the record worth a listen. It's mostly consistent in sound, with the glinting exceptions that indicate their growth as a group. For those who want to remain in a permanent summer, rather than return to a mundane 9–to–5, a track or two during the morning commute may provide that experience.
