Don't Feed the Pop Monster finds New Zealand sibling duo
Broods in full creative control of their artistic vision. Less intense or immediate than their first two efforts,
Pop Monster abandons the chilly synth droning of those albums in favor of brighter, warmer textures. Thawed out and energized, Georgia and Caleb Nott present a collection of agreeable indie pop that sometimes thrills and often comforts. As with
Conscious and
Evergreen, the singles are the best of the bunch, buffered by other standouts such as the yearning "To Belong" and the chipper "Everything Goes (Wow)." The album is balanced by delicate moments like "Why Do You Believe Me?" and "Falling Apart," while unexpected inclusions "Dust" and "Old Dog" hint at exciting possibilities for the future. At its best,
Pop Monster offers a handful of confident and polished gems that inject plenty of fresh ideas into the
Broods' repertoire. ~ Neil Z. Yeung