M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

M83 has always been a band that's been able to successfully change their sound and introduce new ideas. Anthony Gonzalez has taken M83 from an unknown electronic band to indie/shoegaze superstars. Each albums growth has been perfect, winning more fans and gaining well deserved popularity. So a double album isn't really a stretch for an artist who is always pushing themselves.

Hurry Up, We're Dreaming almost feels like a step backwards. It seems like a lot of the great shoegaze elements from Saturday = Youth are missing. Instead Hurry Up, We're Dreaming plays like an extended version of Before the Dawn Heals Us without any great songs. A lot of solid songs but nothing that sticks out. There's no Kim and Jesse, no Teen Angst, no Don't Save Us From the Flames. The album's first single, Midnight City, has a nice synth lead line but the hock falls short of ever being really catchy or memorable (although the Kenny G sax at the of the track is a nice touch). Hurry Up, We're Dreaming does continue to push musical elements, as the overall sound pushes the 80's/disco line even further then M83 has gone before.

The biggest problem is that there is so much music that the most solid songs get lost in the shuffle of these one minute musical interludes and songs that are ok but maybe should have been a b-side. I'm convinced that there's a good album in this two disc set but it's not my job to go through and put together the best tracks to make a better album.

Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is a moment where Anthony Gonzalez's brilliance has gotten the better of him. Had he taken the best songs and given us one record, it probably would have played a lot smoother.