Customer Reviews

Chunk Of Change

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't often put much credence into an EP as a band's entrance into the musical world. But you have to start somewhere. And Passion Pit has that certain magic that I find infectious and has mass appeal. As a minor disclaimer, I'm going to echo a bit of Pitchfork's review of the album, but we often think alike.

First off, I think this album sounds just plain happy, and it does what good music is supposed to: make you think and dance all at the same time. Modern electronica never sounded so good, but it's hard to really say what their intention is with this being just an EP. It covers a lot of ground. To Passion Pit's credit, and as I discovered in my reading, this album, minus the last track, "Sleepyhead," was intended for a single person. A kind of love letter, as it were. Despite that, it communicates a message that goes beyond a single-person audience. David Bevan says it best in his Pitchfork review, "Given the notion that Angelakos initially expected just one person to really listen, the record benefits heavily from that which a lot of us look for in sound or elsewhere: emotional authenticity." Maybe it's just catching lightning in a bottle, but I find it hard to believe that such raw creativity is accidental.

As for similar musical interests, I've seen Passion Pit as being a mixture between the high-pitched, creatively sweet vocals of Postal Service with a smattering of the synths and sampling that give The Avalanches their unique personality (though, admittedly, the sampling is kept to a minimum here). But I don't want to take away from the truly authentic sound they've created. It's hardly a mash-up of already-known bands, and I think their future is wide open.

"Sleepyhead," the one song that was not intended for its single-person audience, shows a breadth of talent and construction that propels it past the previous five tracks. You are shocked awake with the "sleeping giant" quality of "I've got Your Number" and "Smile Upon Me," with their slow, easy starts that lead into cacophonous climaxes, but "Sleepyhead" makes you sit up and pay attention to just what kind of songs Passion Pit has constructed.

All in all, I've never been this impressed by an EP since TV on the Radio's "Young Liars" EP. This is a solid half hour of electronica magic. Give it a listen!

Passion Pit, the brainchild of Michael Angelakos, has created one of the biggest buzz in 2009 of any indie-music bands out there (not unlike, say, Vampire Weekend last year) with its widely acclaimed debut album "Manners". But before "Manners" came this EP. Urban legend has it that Angelakos made a tape as a Valentine's present for his girlfriend (the 4 first tracks on here), which then got passed around, and eventually landed him on Frenchkiss Records.

I'm surely among many others who is listening to "Chunck of Change" (6 tracks; 29 min.) after having fallen for "Manners". As such, this EP is an intruiging look in a band's musical growth. All of these songs were recorded in March/April 2007 (and eventually released on this EP in the Fall of 2008). They truly feel like a band (a one-man band at the time) searching and trying out sounds. Take for example the opener "I've Got Your Number", which sounds like some guy needling at home with his computer and keyboards (which is what it was probably was like). "Smile Upon Me" resonates much better. "Cuddle Fuddle" is one of the highlights on here, a trippy tune featuring mellotrons (or a good recreation of it). Not surprisingly, the last 2 tracks are the best on here, they are: "Better Things", reminding me of the early Jackson 5 of all things (if they were electronic), and "Sleepyhead", the best track on here (and the only song to also be included on the "Manners" album).

In all, this is a must for any Passion Pit fan. Sure, the "Manners" album is better, but this EP is quite the find as well. I was supposed to see Passion Pit at Bonnaroo a few weeks ago but events outside my control prevented me from doing so, but I'll be seeing these guys at the Monolith music festival (at the Red Rocks outside of Denver) in September. Can't wait for that.

My mistake for ordering the cd after hearing very little of it. While I appreciate the weirdness and strange sounds and all, I'm still looking for the song underneath it all. Maybe you have to be in the mood, but so far it hasn't happened for me. I'll keep trying though, because I know all to well, some music takes time to grow on you.

The first time that I heard the song "Better Things" my reaction went from "Excuse me what is this" to "oh my god I must have this album". I'm a big fan of the band "Of Montreal" and a friend of mine recommended Passion Pit because he said they were somewhat similar. I don't know how similar they are except for the fact that they are both amazing and wildly different from mainstream music.

I can't get enough of this album, it's the only CD that has been playing in my car for the past couple weeks.. the music just somehow makes sense to me. "Of Montreal" took some getting used to but I love them now.. however, with Passion Pit's "Chunk of Change" I was on board with their style right away. After I fully listened to the CD I couldn't believe that I had found another great band, and even more surprised when I found out that this was their first CD. I liked this album ("Chunk of Change") MUCH more than I liked their album "Manners". In my opinion, "Manners" doesn't have the same style, emotion, or energy. The only issue I have with Chunk of Change is how short it is, but I have no issue playing this CD on repeat :)

`Chucks of Change' is Passion Pit's debut EP and considering it was recorded at home on a laptop the sound and production is pretty impressive. Of course this is most well know for `Sleepyhead, which also features on the full album `Manners', but the whole EP has some great songs and from the opening track `I've Got Your Number' you know you are in for one positive and upbeat collection. It's pays to be aware that whilst the sound between `Chunks of Change' and `Manners' is similar, the latter album is more polished and slightly better in my opinion, so if you're unimpressed with this EP then it is still worth giving the album a listen. This is a fun, unique band and well worth giving a try and as you can pick this up reasonably cheap these days is worth considering.

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This is the first release for Passion Pit, and it is not a studio release, so the sound is a bit more primitive, I still like it though, but I think Manners (the studio released album) is fantastic!

I can't express how much I love this band. This EP is addictive. THe lyrics are intelligent and the beats catchy. The lead singer pretty much single-handedly made the EP as a Valentine's Day present for his girlfriend. Amazing. They were also on the long list for the BBC Sound of 2009 award. Only great things to come for this band.

There have been a lot of really good albums this year, and this ranks high among them. It is catchy, dancy, and the lyrics give you more than a typical "dance" album. Is this a dance group? I don't know. Unfortunately this all-too-brief CD will leave you wanting more, but not getting it. This is all The Passion Pit have availible at the moment.

Check out the songs on their website. I recommend "Better Things" because that's the song that got me hooked from the very first time I heard it on Sirius Radio's "Left of Centre" station.

I'm really excited to see where The Passion Pit goes.

I saw them live a few weeks ago and immediately bought their album. Passion Pit is a bunch of amazing guys singing and playing this crazy amazing techno/electronic/happy music. I'm not generally into this genre, but Passion Pit is too wonderful to resist

I always buy my CD's in Amazon and recommend so to my friends...The CD was in perfect condition and arrived exactly when promised...