The Debutaunts - Why Can't We Have Fun Review

Who?
Debutaunts is an indie/pop rock quintet from Atlanta by way of Florida. They bring us a pop-rock 11 track album entitled Why Can't We Have Fun that can brighten up anyone's day. Bringing in the pop-rock influences from the 1960's and combining them with the indie and elctro rock we've grown accustomed to nowadays, this is an easy and accessible listen for music lovers.

How is it?
It's safe to say these guys aren't reinventing the wheel. Front to back, it's a solid listen and you don't get tired of it. They blend sugary hooks with lovely lyrics to give you an album worth listening to. Standout tracks like "Everything's Perfect" and "This Is Yours" showcases the band's songwriting ability. They have a knack for writing songs that, quite literally, make you feel good. Your toes will be tapping in their pop riffs and melodies, which singers/guitarists Jazek and Jonny Shupert can take credit for. The keys give the band a distinct sound, they tend to change tones between each song, instantly separating each song from the last. However, I think the theme of the album is that there is more to be desired here. Make no mistake, these guys can write some pretty good songs. It just lacks the "it" factor that makes other bands like them memorable. For example, the song "Principles" could've been the best song album. It's got great verse and bridge structure, but when the chorus hits, the song just deflates....full text Confusing in its ability to cross and combine genres, the young band Debutaunts’ first full-length album ‘Why Can’t We Have Fun’ combines electronic production with catchy throwback alterna-pop songwriting. Electronic beats and production usually suggests a dance-like vibe, but for Debutaunts, the vocal effects and pulse-like beats are merely another layer that defines their sound—a confusing sound at first, but enjoyable once gotten used to.


Both the first single “Everything’s Perfect” and “As Long As You Want Me” feel like they could easily be hits—the first due to its catchy melody and the latter because of its dark electronic sound. “Principles” sounds like it could have been a chart-topper several decades ago in the ‘60s with its pseudo-Beatles pop sound. Other songs play with meter and hand clapping to add interest and clout to their composition.

In an industry where autotune and electronic effects are often used to mask deficiency, the use of effects left me wondering what the band was hiding for a while, especially since the band’s style doesn’t call for an electronic sound—they use tambourine and strings in their songs for goodness’ sake—but in the end, their sound is interesting and fun enough to earn my trust. Debutaunts knows how to craft an album that manages to sound like indie-rock and club music at the same time....full text The newly-released Why Can’t We Have Fun is an alt.-rock mash-up of familiar sounds and flat lyrics, so reminiscent of so many other bands that the best adjective I can offer it is simply “nonabrasive.” A sort of jigsaw amalgam of Hot Hot Heat, Phantom Planet, a smattering of Islands, and a whole lot of The Smiths, The Debutaunts (sic) manage to maneuver an entire album without ever really defining themselves as artists. With each song, one spends all her time wondering, “Where have I heard this before? Who does this remind me of?” So much that, by the time she finally figures it out, the song is over. It’s not that I want to forget this band. It’s just that I can’t help but do so.

OK, that might be a little harsh. The Debutaunts do, after all, exhibit a fine display of musical diversity throughout this release, none of which could really be labeled “bad”— at least not in any technical sense. They have musical range. For instance, the album shifts from the perfectly metrical Waltz-standard of “Who Could’ve Lost You,” accompanied by orchestral strings, to classic 50s Rock-n-Roll in “Principles.” They move from sentimental rock ballads in “Made to Fit” to lightweight teen-romance soundtracks in “She Missed the Party” to prominent synthesizing in “As Long As You Want Me.” Variety, they have. The problem is—these variations all come across as stale imitations of things we already know.

That also might be too harsh. I’m not trying to say that this album should be totally avoided (the chosen modifier was “nonabrasive,” after all). I’m merely saying that, for me at least, it’s not going to be remembered. It gives me this feeling: that it’s the product of a very talented band who is too busy trying to be a very talented band to actually risk something original. Even the vocals seem affected. Jazek’s artificially-forced triphthongs and protracted vowels strike the listener as someone urging, “Go on; find meaning here. This is deep and soulful and moving. ” (We won’t dwell on the fact that what he’s singing about is a girl missing a party.) It’s like trying to cram something like “heart” into a place where the real thing should exist on its own....full text