Forget

iTunes Review

Archly romantic and eminently danceable, Twin Shadow’s Forget is a memorable debut album. Front man George Lewis Jr. makes no secret of his fondness for ‘80s-era New Romantic and post-punk artists in these tracks. The brittle keyboards, stuttering guitars and ominous synthesizer washes suggest New Order, Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears as influences. As a singer, Lewis recalls Morrissey’s doom-struck croon in tracks like “Slow” and “For Now.” Lewis shows an original touch as a lyricist, interweaving fragments of mood and imagery to create scenarios of erotic intrigue. The scenes within “Tyrant Destroyed” and “Yellow Balloon” are sinister and obsessive, underscored by their twitching grooves and billowing backdrops. Sonically, the album extends from throbbing dance-floor serenades (“When We’re Dancing”) to Goth-tinted industrial pieces (“Castles In the Snow”) and swirling, narcotized pop arias (the title tune). “At My Heels” combines stinging guitar licks with coolly sparkling beats to fine effect.