“Don’t ever be afraid of starting over,” implores frontman Mark Foster midway through his band’s second album. It’s advice the LA trio certainly took to heart when developing the drastically new sound displayed on Supermodel, the follow-up to the world-conquering Torches.
Released three years ago, the band’s debut was a simple, upbeat, and impossibly catchy pop album that received worldwide attention.
After touring Torches for two years, Foster took a two month solo trip to India and parts of Africa, leading him to adopt a new perspective on American culture and Western capitalism – factors that clearly had a part to play on the new album.
Supermodel is an eclectic and restless collection that sees the three-piece bounce from the upbeat guitar rock of first single ‘Coming Of Age’ to the confounding, jazz-tinged ‘Best Friend’.
Album opener ‘Are You What You Want To Be’ makes it clear from the outset that things are going to be different – featuring afro-pop inspired percussion.
The band seem to strive to discover a new sound on every song, leading to a lack of overall cohesion on the LP. This is typified with ‘A Beginner’s Guide To Destroying The Moon’, a heavy, synth-filled epic that leads straight into ‘Goats In Trees’, a somewhat out-of-place folk number. Clocking in at 50 minutes, it’s a long, and at times, tiring journey.
The closer ‘Fire Escape’ is the simplest and arguably best moment of the record, with all the psychedelia and heavy synths replaced by just Foster on acoustic guitar, again showing another side of his songwriting ability.
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Those expecting Torches II may be disappointed by the inevitably divisive release, especially after the universal love for their debut, but Foster The People obviously want to be much more than a catchy electro-pop band. Supermodel proves they’re definitely on their way, but they’re not quite there yet.
Watch the clip for ‘Coming Of Age’ from Supermodel here:
