Foster the People became an afterthought faster than they became a thought.
The Los Angeles-based trio found overnight success with 2011’s _Torches_, but once the hype subsided, became little more than a blip on the radar. The band’s designation as a one-hit wonder all but solidified.
Mark Foster and company refuse to accept these terms. The alt-rock outfit’s sophomore record, _Supermodel_ finds the band trying to rekindle the magic of its LP, but to no avail. Where _Torches_ was loaded from top to bottom with radio-friendly tunes, _Supermodel_ is bloated with opaque and prosaic indie-pop fodder.
Described to Rolling Stone by Mark Foster himself as [“polarizing,”](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/foster-the-people-bounce-back-with-coming-of-age-announce-new-album-20140113) there is nothing controversial here. The band has only added layers of psychedelic glut over its core sound, and the effort is akin to MGMT’s dazzling _Oracular Spectacular_ sans the ambition and galvanizing hooks. It’s a failed attempt to increase the artistic value of the band’s synthpop regimen, but it only makes for an uncomfortable listen.
Truth be told, this isn’t a complete disaster. Bare-bone cuts like “Nevermind” and “Goats in Trees” give your ears some much-needed R&R. The latter is undoubtedly Foster’s greatest piece, with his singsong voice — resembling that of Foxygen’s Sam France — accompanying you through a star-filled psychedelic haven.
Foster’s songwriting has improved, but only to an extent. He tackles lofty topics with a heavy hand, but all too often his earnest lyrics come off as insipid and fatuous. On “A Beginner’s Guide to Destroying the Moon,” the frontman scowls, “We’ve been crying for a leader / To speak like the old prophets,” like the kid on Twitter who tries to be ambiguous and “deep.”
The potential highlighted by the neo-psychedelic hit “Pumped Up Kicks” is M.I.A. on _Supermodel_. I don’t know — perhaps _Torches_ was a fluke? Or maybe I’ve grown up? I was a sophomore in high school when it was released, mind you.
Either way, Foster the People has fallen off the indie-pop precipice of success.
_MOVE gives_ Supermodel _2.5 out of 5 stars._
