CD of The Week

Poliça, with their ethereal vocals and synth-pop sound from Minneapolis, just released their second album, Shulamith. The album name comes from radical feminist Shulamith Firestone. Agree or disagree with the writer, the homage is sincere. The music is almost secondary on this album, which is beautifully produced and fundamentally (once again) syth-pop. Singer Channy Leaneagh’s voice melts over the production, drawing you into the lyrics.

"I don’t need a man, I don’t need a man. All that he does I can, I can. I don’t need a love. I don’t need a love. Got enough worry to fill me up.," Leaneagh sings on "I Need $," with too much reverb on her voice to be satirical. Lyrically Shulamith is dark, and the heavy reverb and effects on the vocals make it even grimmer. The lyrics can sometimes be under-developed and one-dimensional, and she may have missed an opportunity to talk about something broader than relationships. Even forgoing the effects, the vocals on "Vegas" express a deep R&B beat that mimics the profound tone. It makes you feel as though you are moving slowly in a deep rain. As the beat picks up in the song, you'll feel soaked in sound if not quite elated.

The syncopated, shuffling percussions of "Torre" stand out as well. "I Need $" has the novelty of vintage keyboard sounds. Throughout the album, there's usually a straightforward beat that's always dance-y, but mostly, and complimentarily, atmospheric. The single "Chain My Name" opens the album with bending notes on the keyboard and makes you want to move a bit. It is the most fun song on the album and makes you want to shake something, whether it be your wallet for the album, or your booty on the dance floor, which you can do when Poliça plays Union Transferon November 5th.