Full Review of “Memories...Do Not Open”

I’ve always loved the Chainsmokers for their unique sound and growth as artists even after their first taste of fame with “Selfie” (and getting shit on for that god awful American Idol performance). Artists are always in a tough spot, their fans want them to stay the same but grow, they want them to make great new songs but not change, they want them to be successful but don’t want them to get too big. It’s a lose-lose situation. I think with the Chainsmokers, they went a different path than most would of their pre-Closer fans expected. Their lean to a softer more poppy sounds was something I didn’t see coming, but probably should have. If you look at their most recent successes instead of their older music it appears to be a more natural progression to what can be found on the album

• The album starts off with “The One” which was released a few days before Memories debuted. This is meant to start the concept of the album, following a break up and it’s aftermath of sorting through the memories related to said relationship. While it contributes to the overall theme, as a standalone song it feels pretty flat. A little more energy would do wonders for this song but I understand its use as it fits into the broader idea and sets the tone of the album.
• The second song “Break Up Every Night” ups the energy from the first and brings in that mid 2000s pop-rock (Blink-182, Sum 41, Good Charlotte, All American Rejects...you get the idea). I like this more as a standalone than “The One” but not in the same way I usually like a Chainsmokers song but more how I liked that Bowling for Soup song, just sub in EDM sounds for guitar chords and they're pretty close.
• Song three is a little more similar to an EDM song but MUCH slower and a little more depressing. “Bloodstream” has the most defined drop so far which gives you a little hope to carry you through the rest of the album. I think the biggest issue is that lyrically the experience really isn’t there. It’s too simple for my taste but whatever, it gets the point across I guess.
• Now we’re talking. Song four, “Don’t Say” brings back what I liked about The Chainsmokers; short, high-quality vocals, highlights the quality production, and a strong drop. I’m glad that they were able to go back to the EDM formula and create a song that fits the theme and still sounds original.

So far I like the concept of the album but I’m slowly realizing this isn’t what I expected. It’s leaning away from traditional progressive house and more into pop-EDM which is the exact opposite of what I thought would happen. The next song is “Something Just Like This” which I already reviewed so go check that out.

• Here comes the meat of the album, at least for me. “Just My Type” is a really solid song that again, feels like The Chainsmokers I know. I like this one better than “Don’t Say” mostly because it hits a little harder and isn’t as much of a downer. The Album is really picking up and starting to satisfy those expectations I had coming in.
• This is my favorite song on the album.  As the conclusion to the best three song stretch on the album, “It Won’t Kill Ya” is a great way to cap it off. It immediately has an ominous build up going on in the background, which raises the level of anticipation that was sorely lacked in other songs. Again, the vocals aren’t the centerpiece of the song but works alongside the production. The drop is great misdirection as a false drop starts first then the bass comes in to give an interesting dimension. Vintage Chainsmokers, and to be honest this song is the difference between me liking the album and giving it a below mediocre rating in my eyes.

I also already reviewed “Paris” so check that out. Though I will say I’ve warmed up to it as time has gone on, I’m still not in love with it. 

• “Honest” is kind of a mix between the last three songs and the first few songs. It’s feels like that teenage high school pop-rock with an EDM twist (aka this whole album). Not a huge fan but I can see how some people gravitate towards this.
• “Wake Up Alone” features Jhene Aiko who is their second most famous feature (I mean there’s not many people more famous than Coldplay). This tiptoes the line between EDM production and Hip Hop production. More similar to that three song run than the rest of the album. This is more my speed and taste.

With only two songs left it’s a crapshoot as to what style to expect but the last one has Florida Georgia Line on there which should catch your attention as it did mine.

• “Young” is the second to last song and feels like one of those high school, “I know, it’s gotta be so hard to be young and in love and I feel for you.” Super cliche and not really for me. I see the attraction to it from a younger crowd but again it’s not really for me.
• The finale of the album includes Florida Georgia Line which shocked me that they’d be involved. “Last Day Alive” is interesting because it doesn’t really sound like FGL which helps because the gap between country and EDM is pretty wide right now. Not the high note that I wanted the album to end on unfortunately, not bad but just ok.

That’s the official rundown but a few parting thoughts:

Yes this is a mainstream album, yes Alex isn’t a great vocalist, yes it’s targeted to a younger crowd (younger than even me), yes there are cringe-worthy cliches. But, I feel like it is exactly what it’s supposed to be, a teenage, high school memory album, that taps into a younger generation and turns them into diehard fans. This is a similar strategy that has repeated itself over and over again. For me it’s most reminiscent of Blink-182 and what they did while I was a kid. While critically they weren’t exactly visionaries or the most talented group ever assembled, they were able to become the soundtrack to so many of our lives. I can see The Chainsmokers doing something similar, if you don’t think it's possible you must not have been paying attention for the past year.

It’s tough when you realize you’re favorite artists aren’t making music for your demographic anymore but that shouldn’t make you hate them or resent them. Being older you start recognizing cliches in songs, and this album has a bunch of them. But each generation needs an artist who delivers those cliches in a way their age group relates and bonds with it. It’s unfortunate the The Chainsmokers whole album isn’t for me and my demographic, but I’m smart enough to see what they’re doing. They are trying to meet the need for a musical act in a “that’s not really music” genre, that generates teenage anthems.

Only time will tell if this album bridges the gap between debut and classic but it won't be for my generation to decide.