404

Barns Courtney named his second album 404 after the Internet warning that there is nothing located at your destination. Unsurprisingly, 404 teems with references to emptiness, a longing thats evident from the albums opening track -- and lead single -- Hollow. In addition to providing a thematic salvo, Hollow indicates whats in store musically on the rest of 404: its bright, loud, and active, gaining momentum from Courtneys bellow, bleeping synths, and stomping rhythms. Even the slow tunes on 404 are given this overdriven, oversaturated treatment, a combination that suggests a lone, human voice howling the void. For as much as this digital racket captures a bit of contemporary existentialism, its also true that 404 is designed as a modern pop album, too, where the darkness lurks in the corner and is overshadowed by shiny, clanging hooks clamoring for attention. Its to Barns Courtneys credit that even when hes surrounded by a din thats constructed of equal parts of Imagine Dragons, the 1975, and James Bey, he comes across as a human presence. Maybe he hits his marks too squarely and with too much volume, but he does give his angst charisma and melody, which is what helps sell the alienation behind 404. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine