Los Angeles – Louisiana duo Generationals have quickly returned with the follow-up to their superbly crafted 2013 effort, Heza. Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer crafted their first three albums from home with the help of a close friend. For this go around, they’ve acquired the help of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist producer Richard Swift (The Shins, Foxygen, The Black Keys) to lift them into a new horizon.

“I looked at the demos objectively and really just helped organize the sounds into something that was sonically cohesive,” Swift told NPR about Alix. “I knew they spent a lot of time on their own, on their headphones creating these beats and bells and whistles and felt no need to drastically change them.” The final product is a dazzling mix of electro-dance tracks that never seem over-produced like much of the bands roaming in this realm. Generationals spread their wings with Alix, making it their most unified album yet. It may not be the perfect final summer escapism record, but the New Orleans natives send you off into the fall season with a jolt of jolliness.

“Black Lemon” kicks off the album in the best way possible. It’s the beginning of the end-of-summer type of song. The last farewell as we lead into something new. The light beats, airy vocals, and hazy feeling make up for one tremendous single worthy of being a massive hit over the airwaves. “Gold Silver Diamond” is under the guise of R&B pop. The vocals are at the forefront, but it’s the infectious beats that carry this tightly constructed tune. In fact, it appears Swift was able to take the early material Generationals created and generate a tune-up. That’s not to say he changed the entire dynamic of what this album was going to be without him. However, his magical touch conceivably gave it the required elements to have it standout as something utterly distinctive.

“Reading Signs” is the best song off Alix; a silky-smooth jam that’s a bit slower than the rest of the album. Generationals appear to be at their finest when they slow things down. Oddly enough, despite the low tempo, you still never feel more alive when this track plays. The arrangements alongside the duo’s shared vocal duties are quite mesmerizing in a way that carries you off like an ocean tide. The feeling one may encompass is this sense of anything is possible if you want it to be. To have that beside you might just be the ticket that makes a change worthy of shaking things up in one’s own path. “Welcome To The Fire” feels like the 80s even down to its title. It boosts a repetitive tapping sound at first, but the hypnotic vocals definitely ease the mind and soul as we fall deep into the song. It’s another not-so-surprisingly wonderful track by a band that took a chance in a crowded soundscape to craft something as memorable as Alix.“ Penultimate track “Now Look At Me” is one of the more reflective songs by the duo. It’s the shortest track at just three minutes and while the flow remains consistent throughout, the vibe couldn’t be any more mellower and laidback.

Alix closes with “Would You Want Me,” a catchy, free-flowing song that has you dancing away as the ride comes to an end. At ten tracks and less than 35 minutes, the fun is relatively short. However, it’s one of the very few light and summery albums you’ll want to re-visit this fall. Cool, calm, and deeply passionate, Alix can cater to both the good times and bad times. Everything present seems to be a labor of love and it clearly shows within the collective mix of this latest material. Generationals are very much alive with this new release and listeners shouldn’t have any problem sharing this mutual feeling.

Alix will be released on September 16 via Polyvinyl Records. Check out Generationals’ website for more info on their upcoming tour.

Press Photo: Akasha Rabut

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Sean Kayden

His father has always been an avid fan of 70s and 80s artists. He introduced Sean at an early age to the likes of many rock groups of that era. In the late 90s, Sean acquired a fondness for the likes of such alternative bands as Smashing Pumpkins, Goo Goo Dolls, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. In high school, he gravitated towards artists like Brand New, Saves The Day, and Fall Out Boy. As Sean entered California State University Fullerton, where he earned his BA in Radio/TV/Film, his music taste expanded to the realm of Broken Social Scene, The National, and Death Cab For Cutie. For as long as Sean can remember, he has always had the desire of launching his own stories that would someday be presented through television, film, and print. This form of expression continuously uplifts his spirit. Sean is a certified TRX fitness trainer and teaches group classes as well.

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