REVIEW: Two Door Cinema Club returns with impressive album

Two Door Cinema Club returned to the music scene after four years, with their long-awaited new studio album Gameshow. The band created their own genre — indie-pop with some rock mixed in and heavy electronic influences. Along with several artists such as Passion Pit, Fitz and the Tantrums and others, Two Door Cinema Club has popularized the upbeat indie music they have come to represent.

Fans of Beacon, the band’s previous studio album, will not be disappointed with Gameshow. The album provides new tracks that remain consistent with the ethos that Two Door Cinema Club previously established.

“Bad Decisions,” the second single from Gameshow, provides a happier and generally brighter sound than was seen on Beacon. However, songs like “Invincible” and “Gameshow” are thematically identical to the songs “Handshake” and “Sun” from Beacon.

The band ingeniously combines their pop sound with more electronic sounds than usual in “Surgery.” “Je Viens La Da” showcases lead singer Alex Trimble’s signature falsetto and is the vocal highlight of the album. Gameshow synthesizes different facets of the band’s unique genre.

The album’s lead single and first song, “Are We Ready? (Wreck)” features lyrics such as “Oh, we’ve made a mistake / We’ve lost our minds / We’ve lost our memory.” The band has openly talked about the problems they faced during and following their last tour, putting the band’s future in peril.

“It was physically and mentally draining, and we got that point in early to mid-2013 where we all agreed that it just wasn’t worth it,” Trimble said in an interview with the Guardian. “We didn’t want to be around one another for a very long time.”

Fans were unsure of whether the band would return from an unofficial hiatus that began in 2012. After taking a long break, with certain members overcoming drug addictions, pursuing individual passions and creating identities outside of the band, they reunited to create an album that they felt pushed the boundaries.

“It’s so good to be back together. So far, the shows have been so much fun, and we’re enjoying each other’s company. It’s nice to have a somewhat healthy relationship again,” Trimble said. “This isn’t a contractual obligation, we’re doing it for pleasure.”

With this album, it seems that the worst is over for Two Door Cinema Club. Remaining in the spotlight for more than six years has historically been a challenge for indie-pop artists, but a few such as Passion Pit and Young the Giant have broken this trend.

The band seems to be following in these groups’ footsteps, with the immense excitement fans have expressed in anticipation of its newest album. The band’s world tour will begin in the United States on Nov. 17 and continue to Europe and Latin America.

While the album does not push the boundaries of what the band has previously produced, it reassures fans that Two Door Cinema Club is back and ready to do what they do best. The band’s musicnaturally pushes the boundaries of traditional indie-pop. Setting the stage for bands such as The 1975 and Bastille, Two Door Cinema Club opened the door for a specific niche of upbeat guitar music.

With Gameshow, Two Door Cinema Club once again proves that they don’t need to change their sound to be revolutionary.