Guys, ever feel like you’re faced with the same girl problems you had in high school? Ladies, ever wonder what guys think the perfect girl is like? Ever have a thing for ebony love and don’t know how to properly disclose it? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please make an effort to (re)acquaint yourself with Chester French. D.A. Wallach and Max Dummey are back to pumping their Hip Hop infused Pop beats and honest, yet witty, lyrics through your speakers on their sophomore album, MUSIC 4 TNGRS.

Starting with their first mixtape with Clinton Sparks, Jacques Jams Vol. 1: Endurance, Chester French set themselves apart from any other band I’ve heard before with their production. They’ve created a unique sound that smoothly combines the upbeat tempo of Pop, the grungy riffs of an electrical guitar, the big brass resonance from a marching band, and the lashing bass of an Electronic Dance track in a grimy Italian nightclub at 3 in the morning. The long hours these Harvard alums put into working at Quad Sound Studios while at school are evident in the effortless layering of instrumentation and vocals throughout the album, especially on “Female Version.” Although a few of the key changes and melodies may sound reminiscent of their first album, Love The Future, that’s just it-reminiscent. They built on their sound from their mixtape and first album. And they’re on their way to building their own Tower of Babel.

D.A. Wallach’s lyrics have also matured with the band’s sound. In “Mania,” D.A. seems to be over the glamorous perks of a music star-parties with other celebrities he’s not really familiar with, all the groupies running rampant, and being irrationally arrogant. But don’t confuse his confidence and determination with arrogance on “Next Big Thing,” because as the “new endeavor, [they'll] keep you looking clever.” My favorite track on the album has to be “Drop.” If Justin Timberlake and R.Kelly had a kid in another dimension, besides ruining any other man’s chance of becoming the ideal man for a woman, that kid would sound like D.A. on “Drop,” with his high pitched inflections, sultry persuasion, and all. I don’t think anyone can plan a better date than 7-Up, Grenadine, and bowling. And the last time I put on Ren and Stimpy while a girl was getting skimpy? Nothing short of perfect.

Overall, the subject matter of the album deals with girls and emotions for them in a raw, straightforward manner, hence the TNGRS in MUSIC 4 TNGRS. And Chester French composed the right soundtrack to make those raw emotions easily “edible” like the “Perfect Girl.”

4 / 5 bars

Chester French – “Next Big Thing” ft. Pusha-T, Pharrell

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Chester French – “Drop”