Album Review: Bishop Allen - Charm School

Lukas Clark-Memler

Lukas considers himself to be a post-modern cynic and is vaguely respected as a music critic. His musings have found themselves into a wide range of international magazines and a variety of credible websites. He also runs the successful blog Vinyl Record Face. He is music editor here at Get Frank so If you have any music you want him to check out or have any questions or comments, email him at lukas@getfrank.co.nz.

Have you ever had one of those days? A day where death seems to be the preferable option, a day where the simple act of getting out of bed seems like such a colossal task. These days manifest differently for all of us. For some it could be a life-sucking day spent in the office, surrounded by equally lifeless co-workers. It could be a day spent at school, learning about mind-numbingly boring subjects that make watching grass grow seem exhilarating. It could be a day where nothing goes right, everything goes wrong and the world seems to be plotting against you. Yes, we all have those days, days where suicidal tendencies get the better of us, where the slitting of your wrist seems to be a more desirable fate...
Well put that razor down. And put Bishop Allen's debut album on.
The perfect remedy to even the worst of days: Charm School is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, and make the world seem a brighter, friendlier place.

Why this album is so unheard of, is a mystery to me. Bishop Allen is the best thing to happen to music since the Beatles, and you can quote me on that.

In this excellent debut, Bishop Allen seamlessly blend catchy melodies, quirky lyrics, and an eclectic mix of instruments to bring together a delightfully fresh sound; a sound that is equally addictive as it is playful. As the melodic charms of the album insinuate themselves in your brain, you will not be able to shed that smile for at least a week, I guarantee it.

With that said, Bishop Allen's sound defies conventional labeling. I suppose one could call them pop, but only reluctantly. I say reluctantly because of the extremely negative connotations of pop: mindless, pretentious, insipid, profit-driven music you find on charts, by bands who seem to vanish after having their 5 minutes of fame. This connotation is a shame, actually because Bishop Allen embodies pop in its original sense; fun, catchy beats with sharp guitars and sing-along choruses. But if in today's society, pop means selling out then Bishop Allen are certainly not pop, but instead are indie kings whom definitely deserve far longer than 5 minutes in the spotlight. This is one of those albums that you could play on repeat for months and still not get tired of. This album is the perfect antidote to even the worst of days.