Geekscape Music Review: Chromeo’s “Business Casual”

Montreal duo Chromeo’s new album, “Business Casual” could be more aptly named “Women Are F***ing Crazy.”  I would add “…But Men Can Be Pretty Stupid, As Well” to that title.

I would LOVE to meet the ex-girlfriends and other inspirations, fictitious, real or otherwise/figments-of-their-imagination-that-were-then-crafted-in-a-song of Dave Macklovitch and Patrick Gemayel.  They seem like some crazy bringers-down of the sisterhood of women.  However, crazy and stupid aside, it makes for the most fun I’ve had listening to a new album in a really long time.

For some people, music technology is porn.  If that is the case for you, “Business Casual” is your new “Deep Throat.”

Moog?  Check.  Auto-tune?  Yes.  Reverb?  Uh huh.  A random vocal sample from Beyonce’s lil’ sis, Solange?  Yes.  Wait, is that a talk box?  Or is it a vocoder?  What is that?  Are they the same thing?  Wait, what?  Check.  Check and check.

After the first listen of the album, I then put Hall & Oates’ “Maneater” on repeat.  It seemed the most appropriate response.  Chromeo obviously loves Daryl and John.  Like, a lot.  And this is a very good thing.

Why?  WHY NOT?!  Hall and Oates wrote some REALLY FUN pop songs!  You can’t tell me you did not secretly (or openly) love the “You Make My Dreams” dance sequence in “500 Days Of Summer.”  It was pure joy.  Hall and Oates popped up in “Anchorman.”  It was a glorious day.  Give out synth, catchy content, moustaches and the Reagan-era 1980s and you can’t help but have a good time.

This album is a good time. 

From the Robert Palmer-esque back-up ladies, (clad in black, obviously, in hot-as-hell stockings), to the bitchin’ guitars, to the synth-with-prosthetics-stands that remind me of the leg lamp in “A Christmas Story.”  It is a dance party.  It is thoughtfully crafted music for dancing in public.   It makes you (well, me) want to shake your booty.  You could fold laundry to this album, and all of a sudden the mundane is fun.

Thoughtfully crafted music such as this includes a lot of mentions of crazy women (maybe just crazy people, but I think women) Here are a sampling of lyrics:

“Your love is real, but I just feel suffocated”
“Why d’you always frown and not go jaded?”
“She says I’m not romantic, I say she’s too dramatic”
 
Must I continue?  Buy the album.  Or if you have commitment issues, download “Night By Night,” “Hot Mess” and “Don’t Turn The Lights On.”

If you need any further motivation, check out their performance on Letterman: