Where on Earth do I start with this?! If Head Automatica was the start of the dance-punk revolution, Men, Women and Children get out the glitterball and turn up the funk. When Glassjaw decided to down tools for a while, I don't think anyone expected the various band members to go down the routes they have done. If Daryl Palumbo's dance side-project was an initial shock to the system, it didn't take long to be wowed by the sheer quality of the tracks on offer. Todd Weinstock's new project, M,W&C, is even more off-the-wall. It's even more glam, more funk and more dancey. It's like something from the disco revolution of late 70s or 80s. It's seriously, seriously good.
I'm not a fan of dance music. Infact, anything with a cheesy synth or bassline and high-pitched pop squeals usually makes my skin crawl. Except somewhere down the line Men, Women and Children have managed to mix all of the things I hate, plus some groove-filled basslines, to create a heady mix that not only matches the poptastic Head Automatica, but is destined to tackle the likes of Panic! At The Disco too. Among the beats, samples and percussion is a twisting backdrop of guitars and basslines, all topped off with some fantastic vocal work.
So the overall mix is great, but what about the songs themselves? Well I'd be lying if I said every track was a winner, but there are some belters here - songs that I know I'll be hearing in alternative clubs across the land in the near future. 'Dance In My Blood' is a real stomper to kick things off, while the double flurry of 'Photosynthesis (We're Losing o2)' and Who Found Mister Fabulous?' are fantastic efforts. I can imagine either song as part of the soundtrack to the movie 'Studio 69' which starred Mike Myers. 'Sell Your Money' even has a kind of 'Boogie Nights' feel to it.
With Warner Bros already on the case, it's likely we'll all be hearing a lot more about Men, Women and Children before too long - but if I was you, I'd seek these guys out now before MTV2 tells you to and Kerrang! has them on the cover. While sticking samples and beats in your music is nothing new, the extent to which these guys have gone to be completely different from everything else around deserves your attention. While it's not punktastic per se, this self-titled album is definitely fantastic.
www.myspace.com/menwomenandchildren
warner bros
paul
