Mark Foster of Foster the People has spoken of the band’s new album, Supermodel, as having a “perfect pop record sound.” While this may apply to the majority of the tracks on the new release, it is the unrelenting acoustic howl of the 9th track, “Goats in Trees,” which takes FTP’s sound to an extraordinary new place.
Sounding like a demented B-Side from the early Shins catalogue, the track takes off in a whirlwind of cryptic lyrics, backed by spooky guitar work and reversed vocal lines. The track’s tone and vocal range is really the star here, allowing Foster to dip low into his dry crackle of a baritone and rise into a Lennon-esque crescendo. This interplay keeps things interesting without relying on the usual crutch of a big chorus.
Surpassing the sometimes forced, pumped over pop on the rest of the album, “Goats in Trees” shows a growth, maturity and diversity which is convincing enough to continue my future impulse purchasing of Foster the People’s music.
