Rating: 7/10
TV Girl’s new album with George Clanton unveiled their dreamy alternative project “Fauxllennium” on Dec. 2, an enjoyable collaboration about nostalgia.
The album feels like a capsule, capturing a vibrant sound in under 30 minutes, starting with the fun and upbeat “Summer 2000 Baby,” which was released as a single over the summer.
The opening song welcomes us into its mesmeric world, featuring TV Girl’s staple high-pitched vocals, synth and obscure samples — in this case, “Summer 2000” by X Cetra, a relatively unknown preteen pop group from the 2000s.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Clocking in at only seven tracks, “Fauxllennium” maintains a consistent and cohesive ambiance without ever feeling repetitive. The central theme revolves around the turn of the millennium, evoking a retro vibe while staying fresh and innovative.
The second track, “Everything Blue,” has a more wistful feel, incorporating hip-hop elements reminiscent of Gorillaz, a band that gained popularity during the era the album celebrates.
The album’s title track feels like the perfect blend of the artist’s talents, enveloping the audience in an ethereal, dreamlike soundscape.
“Take a Trip,” aptly named for its relaxed vibe, follows with groovy percussion and Clanton’s earnest vocals layered over floating instrumentals. It also features, in true TV Girl fashion, a sampled refrain from “We Made It” by Compton’s Most Wanted.
A similarly laid-back track, “The Sweet Life,” introduces jazzy elements that create a fuzzy, soothing listening experience — ideal for a chill evening.
The record closes out with “Yesterday’s World,” which echoes the overarching theme of nostalgia. The chorus asks, “Can we go back in time?” while a perfectly placed sample from the 1950 radio program “Dimension X” muses on the passage of time.
“Butterflies” is an album standout, an entrancing and upbeat track featuring bedroom pop singer Jordana, whose hypnotic vocals add another layer of intrigue to the album. Jordana is a longtime TV Girl collaborator, as the duo teamed up on the 2021 EP “Summer’s Over.”
TV Girl collaborated on another album in 2020, teaming up with their own side project, BLOODbath64, to release the vaporwave-inspired “Aestheticadelica.”
“Fauxllenium” puts a spotlight on the band at its most playful, exploring its genre alongside Clanton, a key figure in the vaporwave and synthwave scenes that brings an atmospheric sound to the project, adding depth to the album’s nostalgic feel.
This is a fun record that showcases the strengths of both musicians. It’s a captivating exploration of musical nostalgia, blending elements of bedroom pop, indie pop and electronic sounds to create a truly unique listening experience.
