The Nashville-based indie rockers' fourth full-length outing and first for
RCA
,
Let the Record Play
marks
Moon Taxi
's official foray into bona fide arena pop. Drawing just a little from their trad rock/jam band past, the group's major-label debut is a bigger, bolder, and decidedly more pop-centric affair than its predecessor, pairing electro stadium beats with easy hooks and breezy island rhythms, suggesting
Vampire Weekend
by way of
Imagine Dragons
and
Maroon 5
. The airy, reggae-tinged title cut sets the timbre, laying down wave after wave of sonic optimism. There are deviations, but even at their most inward-looking, the band is never brooding, and less immediately propulsive cuts like "Trouble" and "No More Worry" eventually find their way onto the dancefloor. Still, it's the festival-ready, future fan faves like "Two High," "Not Too Late," and the aforementioned title cut that help bridge the gap between the two predilections, and while some may bemoan the shift from noodly guitar to seismic drops, the melodies are still there; it's just that the light show is way bigger. ~ James Christopher Monger