While Mystery Jets burst onto the scene in 2006 with the quirky Making Dens, 2007’s Zootime saw the five-piece group dedicating themselves to high-spirited pop. Their recent release, Serotonin follows this same upbeat trajectory. This may be a result of the absence of Henry Harrison, father of front-man Blaine Harrison, from Mystery Jets’ live performances. Harrison still contributes guitar and vocals to Serotonin, but he is notably absent from the shower scene that graces the album cover—one wonders whether his further involvement would push the band’s sound back towards the hints of dad-rock that grace Making Dens.
Serotonin itself is an upbeat affair, universally composed of spirited songs with devastatingly catchy hooks. The wailing chorus on the title track is immediately compelling, and one can’t help but move along with the shimmering beats that back “Show Me The Light”. However, the standout track is clearly the opening “Alice Springs”. The spacey lyrics that open the song quickly give way to a titanic wave of guitar and backing vocals that is more than a little reminiscent of Arcade Fire.
But despite this stellar introduction, the album suffers from a lack of texture. There’s nothing wrong with the songs, but forty-five minutes of upbeat pop ultimately begins to feel monotonous—it’s easy to check out about halfway through. Even the romantic melancholy of “The Girl is Gone” is served with a chipper smile. By the time one reaches “Melt” or “Lady Grey”, the album’s romantic sentiments have coalesced into a formless pottage.
All in all, Mystery Jets should be commended for their mastery of catchy pop songs. If the album drags when one attempts to digest it whole, each of its tracks is capable of delivering the listener a little shot of—what else?—serotonin.
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