BØRNS’ album “Dopamine,” released last Friday, more than delivers on the lyrical romance frontman Garrett Borns promised and is no less delectable than his debut EP, “Candy.” His debut LP features six brand new tracks, two tracks that were released as singles earlier this fall and three tracks from “Candy.”
“Dopamine” is indie pop at its finest, as Borns romantically gushes atop a very unique arsenal of sounds. Each song displays clear themes of love being felt, lost or pursued. While there is a lot to be said about an album with such diverse sounds and cohesive themes, it would be nice to hear BØRNS dive into other complex emotions in his songs. His wide range of sounds save him from the overused romanticism and, at times, poor lyrical content in this album.
He delivers catchy choruses in “Dug My Heart,” “Holy Ghost,” “Electric Love” and “Past Lives” — where the artist’s pop side shines. The album also features sexy electro-pop elements in the title track, “Dopamine.” “Fool,” the second single released off of the album, feels like something from the latest FIFA video game and, low and behold, it is.
His songs “Clouds” and “10,000 Emerald Pools” explore a more soulful side of BØRNS, serving as slow, melodic cuts from the album that explore themes of dependency and need in the name of love.
Two highlights from the album are “American Money” and “Overnight Sensation.” “American Money” feels like a distant cousin to Lorde’s “Glory and Gore,” and besides “Electric Love” off album “Candy,” it has the most potential to receive a shout out on Taylor Swift’s Instagram. It has intensity to it, with a chorus that sticks in listeners’ heads: “So take me to your paradise in your eyes / Green like American Money / You taste just right / Sweet like Tennessee honey.” While the song has pop potential, it doesn’t command the aura of an “instant classic” that “Electric Love” does.
“Overnight Sensation” is one of the more unique songs on the album, as it feels very wintry and vintage. Borns sings, “Immaculate creation / Overnight sensation / God you really outdid yourself with this one / She’s an overnight sensation,” with wistful vocals over a sound reminiscent of a mashup between Christmas carols and Cherub. The background music feels so innocent, one can easily forget the song’s lyrics seem to reminisce about a sexcapade with a hooker.
Overall, this is a great first album for BØRNS. It has catchy pop styles that fit on the radio, while also providing very unique, heavily-produced jams that activate the brain’s pleasure centers — like the album’s name suggests.
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