Meg FarmerAlbum: Massachusetts 2010Artist: Mathieu SantosLabel: BarsukRelease Date: Aug. 2 On shuffle,

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Meg FarmerAlbum: Massachusetts 2010Artist: Mathieu SantosLabel: BarsukRelease Date: Aug. 2 On shuffle, Massachusetts 2010 could hook with you with the charming single “I Can Hear the Trains Coming.” But it’s not the single(ish) cuts on Massachusetts 2010 that are the best indicators of what makes this one a grower.Trippy and poppy in the same glass, Santos, not unlike Panda Bear and Jim Noir, has a knack for drawing listeners in to his world with highly catchy melodies that morph into extended, minimalist vamps without being self-indulgent, rewarding the invested listener. “(I Just) Need to Know” could be a two-minute radio single straight out of 1968. But in Santos’ hands, he turns it into a three-minute, 45-second lesson on the joys of minimalism (you’ve read all the lyrics in the song by now), and careful melodic deconstruction.Had he done this once, it’d be a pleasant surprise. Had he replicated this feat on all 10 of the album’s tracks, it would be insufferable. Instead, Santos shows that he’s got a whole bag full of tricks: He can write you a pop song (see the aforementioned “Trains”), fold in an instrumental (“Good Return Theme”), and throw a one-minute party (“I Said So”).This one’s built to keep on repeat.Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.