Starlight Mints

Change Remains (Barsuk)

By Adrienne Urbanski
Published: July 20th, 2009 | 12:49am

Say what you will about Starlight Mints, but their infectious quirkiness is undeniable. Even with the rampant silliness pulsing through Change Remains, those with more serious preferences can at least appreciate the variance and energy that this album so readily displays.

Change Remains opens up with the film soundtrack appropriate “Coffins 'R' Us,” a fast-paced instrumental that is entertaining even with the lack of lyrics and vocals; listening to it gives one the feeling of walking through a spy movie. The heavy-hitting “Natural” follows suit, boasting synthesizers and glam rock vocals that sound a bit like a grittier version of the Killers.

Among the album's catchiest tracks is “Zoomba,” which opens with the strange and indiscernible lyrics, “Got you out of bed with the red porch light / Told me you were dead but you seemed alright / Put jelly on my toes so the mice don’t bite,” later explaining, “When the blackbird sings in the middle of the night / Going to hide that body underwater.” The song remains appealing in its sardonic tone that makes light of grisly murder.

Standout “Black Champagne” is an energized number that opens with xylophone and drum beats. “Just me and you / Drinking black champagne / Under the yellow moon.” As you might infer from the song titles and lyrics, Change Remains seems to be going for a B-movie, schlock aesthetic, looking for the laughability in the dark and morbid rather than the fearfulness, turning blood and gore into elements worthy of punch lines.

Also worthy and addictive is the strangely delectable dance club (maybe goth club) song, “Power Bleed,” a track that opens up with the helpless scream of a girl in a horror flick — an opening that brings to mind Michael Jackson’s horror movie homage, “Thriller.” Singer Allen Vest’s smooth vocals channel Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes as he sings, “I reach up and pull their eyes out / Step to my right / When I’m wasting the soap / I fall on the floor.” Yes, it’s all a bit strange and nonsensical, but it’s also a lot of fun. A large part of the appeal centers around Vest’s voice, which is able to take on a range of tones. His fondness for catchy refrains makes the perfect recipe for tasty, quirky indie pop.

Compared to Starlight Mints' previous records, Change Remains is by far the most worthy of the dance floor, as every single catchy song on the album easily inspires some toe-tapping.

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