By Adven James

Mighty Fairly has never been afraid of being smart—or smart-asses for that matter. Nor are they afraid of being catchy, accessible or flat-out fun. They might not have written the formula to successful indie-pop, but they certainly know how to get the most out of it.

In their sophomore offering, Mighty Fairly hasn’t re-invented themselves, and are better for it. Like their debut (Perfectly Good Airplanes, 2006), this album provides a good mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation, male/female harmonies, smart arrangements, and track after track of sing-along indie-pop. The lyrics mix dry humor, honest self-awareness (rather than self-indulgence) and strategically-placed f-bombs for maximum tongue-cheek connection.

Here, Mighty Fairly has clearly improved on their strengths and trimmed their weaknesses – the songs are tighter, production is more inviting, the harmonies soar, and it’s altogether more fun (albeit bittersweet at times). This album is much more balanced and altogether better than its predecessor. Every song is strong in its own right, which makes for an excellent listen throughout. It’s a warm, thoroughly-rewarding indie pop record that upholds the importance of
songcraft just as much as a memorable hook—and this album is loaded with both.

In the end, “Big Words and Power Chords” is like a good night with old friends who, despite years and distance, still “get” each other: reflecting on days of being young and wild, with all their heartbreaks and mistakes, then laughing about how seriously you still take yourselves.

www.mightyfairly.com

Filed under: Music Reviews