Telekinesis - Telekinesis! (Album)
Enough already with these boys putting out records which speak to their inadequacies in social situations, their lack of self esteem and constant uncertainty about every goddamn thing that crosses their path. The puppy dog love-me eyes and the sensitive boy next door type and the poetry writing tea drinking let’s sit in my car and listen to these mixtapes I made and avoid eye contact thing has been done. to. death. Enough already!
Hi, my name is Ivana and I’ve just listened to Seattle’s latest musical offering, Telekinesis! by a musician called Michael Benjamin Lerner who also goes by the same name as that of his debut album. And before you all run after me with pitchforks for even thinking of saying anything negative about the latest hipster sensation, allow me to explain...
Telekinesis! is not a bad record at all. In fact, it’s quite a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. You will sway, say “awww” a lot at the lyrics and his sweetheart vocals, and every now and then, you’ll get up a do a bit of a dance around. There is variety but it’s not all over the place. In fact it’s a well-made debut album and it looks good too, simplistic and suave, not afraid to admit it’s pop music but slyly reminding you that it’s also a little on the hip side so it’s ok to put it up there with your (insert latest hipster trend band name here) records.
And the cover sleeve, so fantastic, winter-esque photos coupled with all the song lyrics and oh if you read through each one you may just fall in love with this man, what a gentleman, what a sweetheart: “I’ve got a heart but it’s afraid to love, sometimes I think the damn thing’s full of rust”. Come on now, synchronised sigh, followed by I WISH MY BOY/GIRL WOULD WRITE THINGS LIKE THAT FOR ME!
Really, this is a wonderful listen and you should all go out and buy a copy because you will, I promise, have it on repeat for a while. It stands on its own as a lovely testimony of what is possible when you are honest and not afraid to be vulnerable. It is obvious that Michael Benjamin Lerner is a talented musician and a gifted lyricist and it helps that this record was produced by a man who has worked with Death Cab For Cutie, The Decemberists and Tegan and Sara – all obvious musical comparisons. However. Am I alone in thinking this sort of thing has been heard before? You know – Bright Eyes, Jack’s Mannequin, The Postal Service, et fucking cetera.
Don’t get me wrong, I like all those musicians a lot (with Bright Eyes, it even leans towards love) but seriously, it’s been done, it’s over, it’s what boy bands were to the late 90s, it just doesn’t fit well anymore. No matter how good it sounds, how talented you are, you just came in a liiiiittle late for it and people just aren’t into it anymore. Not as much, anyway.
Confidence is back in fashion, sorry.
But hey, if you don’t mind, go out and buy a copy. I do recommend it. In fact, this kid even has the potential to realise how talented he is and stop whining. The songs you’d dance to, they are a glimmer of hope that Mr Lerner will come out of his shell and produce future records that I can say nicer things about!
