We Thrive on Big Cities

The vacant expression of the boy that adorns the cover of Director's debut album We Thrive on Big Cities is curiously reminiscent of that of another famous Irish debut album. Cover aesthetics notwithstanding, Director's music is less akin to that of U2's Boy than it is New York art punks the Strokes' debut offering Is This It. It's not only similar in style — standout opener "Easy to Me" testifies to this fact — but also in terms of its aesthetic. Like Is This It, We Thrive on Big Cities is a meticulously crafted pop album; if it borrows from post-punk luminaries Talking Heads and Television, it takes only musical influence and none of the D.I.Y. attitude and drive to experiment which typified the movement at its peak. Technically, the musicianship is superb. Frontman Michael Moloney is a classical music graduate with an ear for the sophisticated melody, and comparisons to David Byrne and the Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon are well justified in this regard. The twin guitar attack he forms with Eoin Aherne is formidable, as evinced by the frenzied duel at the end of "Standing in My Way," but all too often the band appears to be holding back. The songwriting, while constantly strong, lacks an individual character; even attempts to break the mold wind up imitating other acts, as demonstrated by the Daft Punk-like opening of "Come with a Friend." Overall, a lack of spontaneity and a particular personality detract from an otherwise constant and overwhelmingly likeable debut.