Mondo
Studio album by
Electric Guest
ReleasedApril 24, 2012
Recorded2006-2012
GenreIndie rock, indie pop, indietronica, electronic rock, psychedelic pop
LabelAcross the Universe, Downtown
ProducerDanger Mouse
Singles from Mondo
  1. "This Head I Hold"
    Released: 4 January 2012
  2. "Troubleman"
    Released: 2012
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic59/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats per Minute84%[2]
Daily Express5/5[3]
Drowned in Sound6/10[4]
Islington Gazette[5]
Loud and Quiet8/10[6]
musicOMH[7]
Pitchfork Media4.6/10[8]
PopMatters6/10[9]
Rolling Stone[10]

Mondo is the debut studio album of Los Angeles–based indie pop band Electric Guest. It was released on April 24, 2012 on Downtown Records and Across The Universe labels.

The single, "This Head I Hold" was featured on an episode of Dancing with the Stars,[11] as well as in an ad for Crate & Barrel.[12] The song "Awake" is featured in the soundtrack of the 2012 video game Forza Horizon.

Development and release

Mondo features heavy production, and draws from genres such as synth-pop, R&B, Motown-style soul, slacker California rock, psychedelia, and bubblegum pop.[13][14][15] With encouragement from Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton, Asa Taccone and his roommate, Michael Compton, refined their songs into an album from 2009 to 2011.[16]

Track listing

  1. "Holes" (2:45)
  2. "This Head I Hold" (2:55)
  3. "Under the Gun" (3:42)
  4. "Awake" (5:00)
  5. "Amber" (3:50)
  6. "The Bait" (3:06)
  7. "Waves" (3:06)
  8. "Troubleman" (8:48)
  9. "American Daydream" (2:48)
  10. "Control" (2:18)
  11. "Holiday" (3:08) [Japan Bonus Track]
  12. "Jenny" (4:15) [Japan Bonus Track]

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP)[17] 32
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] 11
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[19] 49

Reception

Reviews for Mondo were mixed. The New York Times called the album "recession-era pop" with "wistful ballads, that are far more concerned about careers and ethical choices than about the ups and downs of love."[14] Despite questioning the album's sincerity, Rolling Stone called the album "L.A. slacker soul, full of hooky neon jams" and "sonic wit."[10] In one tepid review, PopMatters asserted that Mondo "serves as much as an introduction to a promising new as it does a reminder of a major producing talent."[9] Less flatteringly, and remarking on Taccone's numerous connections in the music industry, Pitchfork said Mondo is a "cautionary tale of what happens when a 'hit record' forgets to actually include hits."[8]

References

  1. ^ "Mondo – Electric Guest". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  2. ^ O'Malley, Kerri (23 April 2012). "Album Review: Electric Guest – Mondo". Beats per Minute. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  3. ^ Townsend, Martin (28 April 2013). "CD Review: Electric Guest – Mondo". Daily Express. Northern and Shell Media. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  4. ^ Bass, George (9 May 2012). "Album Review: Electric Guest – Mondo". Drowned in Sound. Silentway. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  5. ^ Moore, Stephen (27 May 2013). "Album review: Electric Guest – Mondo". Islington Gazette. Archant. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  6. ^ Younis, Reef (June 2012). "Electric Guest – Mondo". Loud and Quiet. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  7. ^ Saunders, Chris (14 May 2012). "Electric Guest – Mondo". musicOMH. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  8. ^ a b Cohen, Ian (4 May 2012). "Electric Guest: Mondo". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  9. ^ a b Spoerl, Steven (15 May 2012). "Electric Guest: Mondo". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  10. ^ a b Hermes, Will (7 May 2012). "Electric Guest Mondo Album Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  11. ^ (May 17, 2013), "ELECTRIC GUEST Mondo". Music Week. (20):42
  12. ^ HAMPP, ANDREW (September 22, 2012), "HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE". Billboard. 124 (33):9
  13. ^ Drever, Andrew (July 27, 2012), "Sticks and stones a low note". The Age.
  14. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (May 5, 2012), "Revising Retro While Pondering Choices". New York Times. 161 (55762):4
  15. ^ Shedden, Iain (June 16, 2012), "Nice and cheesy". The Australian :10
  16. ^ Rolling Stone staff (April 11, 2012), "Danger Mouse Reveals Why He Produced Electric Guest's Debut Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  17. ^ "Mondo by Electric Guest". SNEP. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  18. ^ "Electric Guest". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  19. ^ "Electric Guest". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2016.


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