Review: Freezepop "Future Future Future Perfect"

Freezepop isn’t a household band name, but gamers have a greater chance of recognizing their brand of catchy synthpop. The band has contributed songs to a few video games (most notably for bonus tracks in Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero 2, and Rock Band– one of the members of the band works for Harmonix.) They also have played at the Penny Arcade Expo, a mark of distinction for gamercore.

I first came across their music not through any game, but by being played their 2000 album Freezepop Forever. The first thing that stands out when listening to any Freezepop song is how the beat immediately sticks in your head. The female lead singer lends a chill quality to their songs, but never ventures into the sickly sweet (such as you would find on a synth J-Pop album.)

I missed their second album, but I was sent a review copy of their 2007 release, Future Future Future Perfect. Here’s what I thought.

The album begins with Less Talk More Rokk, which some of you may recognize from Guitar Hero 2. This is a great lead-in with a heavy beat- and thankfully, the entire album avoids succumbing to “generic techno beat syndrome.”After that comes Pop Music is Not a Crime, which puts them in the running for most songs about music and rock (or rokk) with Andrew WK.

From there, the album becomes more slow and dreamlike for Frontload and Thought Balloon. Things pick back up a bit for Ninja of Love and Brainpower (a bonus track in Rock Band.) Do You Like My Wang? (about an obsession with a Wang computer, of course), He Says She Says, and Do You Like Boys? all keep up the tempo while being a bit more relaxed lyrically. Swimming Pool takes things way back for a very leisurely, lyrically-light journey that fades in and out. The album is finished by Afterparty, which would be right at home in a dance club.

Overall, I felt the album was a bit slower and less catchy than Freezepop Forever. I tend to prefer a bit quicker pace to my synthpop songs, but the album is still quite enjoyable. The lighter nature of it means that it’s less active listening and more background for much of the album, perfect for leaving on while working on something else. The exception to this is Less Talk More Rokk, which is a standout favorite for me on the album, and goes into my top rated mix.

If you’re looking for a synthpop album that won’t take over your brain, I’d recommend Future Future Future Perfect right alongside other artists like Royksopp and Ladytron. If you’re a fan of their songs from various video games, it’s a no-brainer purchase. If you’re looking for something faster, catchier, and more pop-like, go pick up Freezepop Forever. Regardless, pick up Freezepop.

Find out more about Freezepop by visiting their official site or the obligatory Myspace.