ALBUM REVIEW: “Ritual In Repeat” is an appealing next step for Tennis, mixing funk and soul into their repertoire without abandoning their charming song-craft.
Letap be honest: were due for a change of pace. As memorable as “Cape Dory” and “Young & Old” were, a third twee-pop album, even if it was the best of the bunch, would likely be received as a retread for the Denver band.
And so, as they outlined in our , Tennis did some soul searching. They stuck to a rigorous creative schedule with hopes of realizing their intended progression, whatever it may be. What they’ve come up with on “Ritual In Repeat” is an appealing next step for the band, mixing funk and soul into their repertoire without abandoning the charming song-craft they built their brand on.
The change is apparent immediately with “Night Vision,” which sounds less like the Tennis we’re accustomed to than it does Jefferson Airplane. For “I’m Calling,” the band shoots and lands a hit for radio relevance, though maybe a few decades too late. “Timothy” goes back even further, as frontwoman Alaina Moore does her best Patsy Cline impression. Moore’s voice has always had a not-of-this-time quality to it, and it fits these retro modes with grace.
Meanwhile, the rhythm section is on prominent display throughout the album, the band’s most dance-forward to date. Sometimes, these old-time inspirations are taken a step too far, heard most often in an instrument unwisely dredged back up for an extra coat of Old ‘N Quirky No. 7 (the ballgame organ on “Meter and Line,” for example). Still, this isn’t too off-putting, and not near enough to detract from what is Tennis’ most convincing collection of pop songs yet. Fans old or new/young, you’ve never quite heard Tennis like this, and that’s a good thing.
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Dylan Owens is Reverb’s all-purpose news blogger and album reviewer. You can read more from him in Relix magazine and the comment sections of WORLDSTARHIPHOP.
