RAC - Strangers [Album Review]

RAC has been on my playlist (and the playlists of a lot of my fiends) pretty much since the first time any of us had heard any of his songs. Remix after remix after remix he continues to show his keen ear is for pop music. While I won't go into further detail into what makes RAC, well, RAC, I will go so far as to say that he has (in my opinion) a near-perfect track record. With the Strangers, his debut LP, Andreé Allen Anjos decided to split the release into two part coming out about a month apart from each other. Part 1, which was released back in early March, was as good as everyone expected but contained a number of tracks that we had heard before. While we had heard most of that album prior to its release, songs like "Hollywood" (featuring Penguin Prison), "Let Go" (with help from Kele and MNDR), and the Tegan and Sara-featured "Hard to Hold" continue to impress.

Part 2, which comes out today, is chock-full of new music, and it is all incredible. Recruiting previous collaborators such as St. Lucia, Pink Feathers, and YACHT, Part 2 is probably the single largest single release of brand-new original material from the Portland-based musician.

My favourite of Part 2 definitely has to be the obnoxiously addictive St. Lucia-backed "Ready For It". We had heard this song before, but my oh my it continues to get into my head with its infectious beat and echoing chorus. After that, "405" (featuring the wonderful YACHT) takes a more outer worldly approach to RAC's definitive synth-infused productions, the incredibly upbeat, summer-appropriate "Cheap Sunglasses" (featuring Matthew Koma), and the dreamy, bass-heavy "I Should Have Guessed". All of these songs are unique in their own respect, but all indelibly linked by RAC's signature sound. 

With his first LP under his belt, I can only hope that RAC will continue to show us why he is worth all the praise heaped upon him and that he will continue to grow as a musician. I have been fortunate enough to have seen him 3 times now in concert, and I can tell you that the man knows what the people want. We want to dance, and we want more. 

Pick up your copy of Strangers Part 1, Part 2, or buy the whole thing together.