Partie Traumatic

I find it funny how Black Kids can put out a great EP that critics rave over, then nine months later they release that same EP with slightly higher production values and few similar sounding songs, those same critics can be found trashing the record.

To me, it seems like it was cool to like the Black Kids when no one had heard of them, but as soon as they became the next big thing, critics couldnt wait to drop them. They'll blame the production values or the non-EP songs for the change in opinion, but objectively speaking, this album does not stray that far from their EP and the early negative reviews are more likely due to reviewers wanting to keep their rep than anything.

For me 'Partie Traumatic' reminds me of 'Hot Fuss' by the Killers. Both albums are based on great raw sounding EPs and both consist of a few great singles connected by lesser, yet decent tracks. Yes the production is higher on this than on 'Wizard of Ahhs', but its not a deal breaker by any means. Yes, the lyrics are a bit silly at times, but to me, bands like this serve the purpose of making fun, danceable music, rather than deep contemplative compositions. And here, they serve that purpose well.

If you like the Cure/New Wave/Dance then you will like this album. Its not super deep, but not incredibly shallow either, just a fun album by a band that critics/snobs are rebelling against right now

I'm not an audiophile, nor have i heard black kids earlier music, so this is just an ordinary joe review. I first heard black kids on npr's all song considered. The song was i'm not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you and I was hooked to an infectious sound that reminds me of earlier b-52s. to me the album doesn't dissapoint with all the songs having an infectious, party till 3 am feel. No, this album won't make you rethink your life, relationships or your grocery list, but it will make time past quicker and as previous reviewer said 'put a smile on your face'. good cd worth downloading.

I totally fell in love with the Black Kids' EP, which contained "Hit the Heartbrakes", "Hurricane Jane", "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend...", and "I've Underestimated My Charm". I think these are all great songs, so I was psyched to pick up the Black Kids' debut album. From my initial listenings, I was impressed with this band's potential. However, I think their debut could have been better.

Like the other reviewers mentioned, the production is a bit different, but I didn't think the change was drastic. However, there's no new song on the album that's any better than "Teach Your Boyfriend", my favorite track, or any other of their previous songs. I was hoping they'd build on what we'd heard before, rather than giving us more of the same. Partie Traumatic is much too short and ends abruptly. It has no "arc" or songs that differ in dynamics much, which gives the album the impression of being thrown together quickly. I can't blame the Black Kids' label for wanting to get their music out there, as it could potentially be a "next big thing". But at a mere 38 minutes, the party hardly has a chance to get started.

This album is seriously not as bad as Pitchfork and other reviewers would have you believe. Yes, the production is glossier than the "Wizard of Ahhhs" EP, but seriously, the departure in sound is pretty minor. I get the impression that some people only loved Black Kids for their lo-fi production, which was, in all likelihood, done out of necessity and was not a deliberate stylistic choice. If you like them for their quirky, twee-esque cutesy lyrics or their sugary pop melodies, you won't be disappointed. This album is not going to change the world, but it will put a smile on your face and make you tap your feet. The tracks from the EP are some of the strongest material here, but new songs are quite fun as well (I'm partial to "I Wanna Be Your Limousine"). If you're buying this via Amazon, and get the bonus remix, it's actually very good. It's got that Justice-y French-house feel to it.

Somewhere between Wizard of Ahhhs and Partie Traumatic, Black Kids lost the knack for production that made their debut EP such an engaging listen. While the songwriting remains solid on their debut LP, the album possesses a glossy sheen of production that is ill at ease among the band's skittish pop. The reworkings of Wizard of Ahhhs tracks all pale in comparison to their original counterparts, which had a darker, hazier vibe that was much more appealing for Black Kids' brand of anthemic pop. The new songs are all musically equivalent to the excellent material culled from Wizard of Ahhhs, but again the overproduction drags the arrangements down into a pristene sea of drab, cookie-cutter sound. The vocals don't fare well in this new production style, either, as Black Kids lead singer Reggie Youngblood takes on a haggard yelp with the treble levels on the record mixed so high.

However, Partie Traumatic still manages to be an enjoyable record. Ultimately, working with a professional producer hurt the band's sound, and though Partie Traumatic is by no means a bad listen, it doesn't meet the expectations created by the bands excellent debut EP. However, for fans of funky, anthemic pop, there will certainly be something to like.