Secret Cities – Pink Graffiti Album Review

Secret Cities are a psych-pop trio from Fargo, North Dakota. And much like the Coen brothers’ film of the same name, Pink Graffiti is a wonderful dreamscape of complicit artistry and deliberate complexity. Though comparable to other pop savants such as Wolf Parade or Chad VanGaalen, Pink Graffiti stands out from the rest because of its effortless hookiness and accessibility. I didn’t have to work to enjoy this album; it washes over the listener, comforting him, and introducing him to a pop tundra that is as beautiful as it is bleak.

The songs are charmingly lo-fi without being cloy. The compositions are deceptively complex, layers of arpeggio and multi-tracked vocals building upon each other, fading away before wearing out their welcome. From the cloudy, orchestral chorus of “Slacker” to the sun-sprinkled mariachi horns in “Color,” there is a spectacular emotional range covered in these ten songs.