Send "Generationals " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 Without even hearing Generationals, it's easy to to get a grip on the band's broad, commercial appeal. Pull up the New Orleans indie-pop duo's Wikipedia biography, and the mention of movies, television shows, and advertisements that the band has leant its music to nearly outweighs the descriptions of the 60s-fetishism that defined their debut, Con Law. And in all fairness, there's little question that any ad agency with a modicum of sense would be wise to snatch up a good percentage of songs from their strong, second full-length offering, Actor-Caster, though many of its sharp, sprightly songs deserve to be enjoyed in places other than in front of the TV.Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer court their catchy tunes in uncomplicated ways, creating minor, genre-spanning songs that oddly locate the same sort of similar kind of grinning, crowd-pleasing affability. The dusty guitar boogie of "Ten-Twenty-Ten", which could pass for an early Phoenix track, is a great guidepost, showcasing the band's proclivity for lively rhythmics and frill-less, friendly hooks. The variances strewn across Actor-Caster are subtle but welcome, highlighting, if nothing else, that this is a band that can do more than just tastefully ape the sounds of the 60s. From the Graceland-indebted bop of "I Promise" to the jerky, life-affirming thump of highlight "You Say It Too", Genrationals trade in a number of types of hooks. Even when they step outside their contort zone a little, like on the twinkling, MGMT-esque love song "Yours Forever", they do so with poise and clarity. Aside from the solid "Dirty Mister Dirty", which faithfully tips its hat to ELO with a woozy gruffness, the saccharine "Goose & Gander"-- which sounds like music made for tandem bike rides-- marks Actor-Caster's steady decline. Acting as one last giddy hurrah, the second half of Actor-Caster quickly resigns itself to bland balladry, completely pale when compared to the livelier first act....full text |
| Musicsavage |
| The Generationals have been on my radar since I first heard ‘When they Fight, They Fight,’ and to say I was excited to hear their Trust EP, and now their LP Actor-Caster would be an understatement. That being said… today marks the release date of ‘Actor-Caster,’ and to me this is their finest work to date. The first track on the album ‘Ten-Twenty-Ten,’ sets a wonderful tone for this album. It’s a bright & sunny jam with a driving rhythm that will have you bobbing your head and reaching for the repeat button. ’I promise’ is a jangly guitar driven song with a playful bass rhythm that keeps up the energy and fun and finally swoops down on the quirky balladry of ‘Yours Forever.’ Jangly guitars return for songs like the soul driven ‘You Say It Too’ and ‘Goose & Gander.’ The foot stompin ‘Dirty Mister Dirty,’ is one of my favorites on the album, a piano rhythm driven song with gang vocals, some unorthodox reverb sounds. Jangly tracks abound this album, but sprinkled in are varied influences of soul, pop, and some foot stompin indie rock. It’s a solid album that shows this band has a knack for pulling off a lot of variance in their music, and they do it very well....full text |
| Theowlmag |
| Generationals‘ latest album combines the best sounds of britpop with powerful riffs that will just make you want to get up and dance. One of the strongest tracks on the album is “Ten-Twenty Ten.” If you can hear this track and keep your feet from tapping, you have a problem. Lyrics like “you remind me of a distant constellation” provide this “fun” album an additional depth that few bands can achieve. Another stellar track that turns things down a bit is “Yours Forever,” a casual love song with a bit of an electric feeling. Consider it the centerpiece of your next mixtape for a lover. “Dirty Mister Dirty” brings a little bit of true rock to this fun album. The track also brings a pseudo falsetto that’s fun for all. One of the more diverse tracks on the album is “Greenleaf” – a track that starts with some sweet piano keys and ends with the same tune....full text |
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