Mini Mansions deal with heartbreak in playful fashion on new LP

You know one of their tracks in an instant, whether it’s Michael Shuman’s unique vocals or the intensely pop-driven melodies. And their third album, Guy Walks into a Bar… is no exception.

The first track “Should be Dancing” begins with what sounds like a warped beat of heavy breathing but soon becomes a fun-fair of fuzzy synths and toe-tapping rhythms, complete with vintage key-changes that you don’t hear on the radio anymore. Mini Mansions has always enjoyed a bit of jaunty nostalgia, but for this record they’ve pulled out all the stops and it’s like ELO for the new generation.

With the exception of “Bad Things”, which sounds a bit too much like Devo’s “Girl You Want”, Guy Walks into a Bar… is a discreet amalgam of high pop, rock and disco, replete with ballads, anthems and radio hits.

Luxuriously produced - this time with a little help from Cian Riordan – the song writing falls a little short of their efforts on The Great Pretender. Whether it’s familiarity or production habits, each track on the new album starts out with a distinct sound, but all end up sounding a little bit the same.

“Hey Lover” is a stand-out track with cameo vocals by The Kills’ Alison Mosshart and builds to a rollicking lilt unique to the band’s sound. “I’m in Love” is loaded with extra cheese and rocks out in an Eagles of Death Metal kind-of-way. If you’re an admirer of QOTSA’s recent out-put you’ll connect the sonic dots as both Shuman (as bassist) and Jon Theodor (drums) have played with them in recent years and with Zach Dawes a fixture in both Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets, there’s a noticeable Alex Turner influence as well.

An ode to love fools, filled with lyrics that hiss with disappointment, this album remains playful and will get your toes tapping even if you can relate to the heartache. Guy Walks into a Bar… is an album built on disco-dreams and broken hearts and is guaranteed to show you a good time.