Golden Years

John Jagos aka (Brothertiger) knows what he wants on his solo project's debut release — which makes it a little frustrating that what he wants has already been claimed to a large extent by Animal Collective, specifically Panda Bear's embrace of Beach Boys-vocal swooning and sighing and recent-ish if not exactly cutting-edge beats. It's not an exact one to one comparison in the end, but Brothertiger is certainly adding to the overall niche that said act's members are creating, a little sprightly and sweet but far less interested in rock than in easygoing dance moves reconstituted from a warped '80s-era cassette. Golden Years does possess a variety within that parameter which makes it more engaging than far too many one-note efforts like it in the 2010s, but admittedly, it's still something that is finding a place that is already fairly well-worn. Still, it's attractive enough regardless, from the space rock synth break on "Too Convinced to Care" to the straight-up strong-as-hell electro beats on "Out of Line," which probably plays the Arthur Baker/Danceteria card best of all on the album on everything except vocals. "I've Been Waiting" is the first song on the album to stand out on its own instead of as part of a whole, while easygoing tunes later like "Wind at My Back," playing up both a gentle ballad and paranoid bass-heavy feeling, help add a little more distinctiveness. Meanwhile, "Reach It All" is practically an inspirational movie theme for John Hughes if he had ever gone electro-gaze. (Though "Lovers" might be a bit too peppy for a serious romantic montage.)