This album is most likely my guiltiest pleasure. It is the full-length debut of a late ’00s buzz band, Black Kids, that flamed out when “Partie Traumatic” generated responses ranging from indifference to critical failure.The hype surrounding Black Kids was intense enough that I cannot simply claim they were overlooked, but their mindless pop was never popular enough for me to feign semi-ironic enjoyment. Somehow, I love this album.
“Partie Traumatic” is gloriously cheesy, fun pop music. Silly, snotty female backing vocals that evoke The Waitresses mingle with dizzying synthesizer,bouncing bass, pounding drums and squealing saxophone. The result is a weird amalgamation of hip-hop, indie rock and dance music all thoroughly polished with a dazzling ’80s sheen.
The album is one ear worm after another; one 3 and a half minute infuriatingly catchy pop track after another. The ability of these songs to lodge themselves in a listener’s brain manages to make “Partie Traumatic” a pleasure to listen to even as cheesy synthesizer lines clash with bizarre or absurd, laughable lyrics.
I strongly recommend this album to anyone that can overlook shortcomings in lyrical content and substance for pure, auditory serotonin.
The Ear Regular 