Music Review: Does You Inspire You

Caroline Polachek, Chairlift’s deadpan singer, elevates cool intensity to a fine art in this spellbinding debut.

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


This Brooklyn trio adds its own creeping unease to familiar synth-pop sounds on its spellbinding debut. With subtle shifts of tone, deadpan singer Caroline Polachek elevates cool intensity to a fine art: In the ominous “Garbage” she oozes contempt, reciting a list of trash that begins, “Your condoms and your vcr“; on the bouncy “Evident Utensil” she chirps softly, “How hard must I try for you?,” hinting at deep resentment. And when she erupts in funky shouting on “Make Your Mind Up,” Polachek is riveting. More of that next time, please.

The truth needs defenders. Be one.

This week is our Spring Membership Drive, and we need to raise 1,000 new donations to fund the critical investigations our team is hard at work on. As of today, we’re only at 200 of that 1,000-donation goal.

Our nonprofit newsroom is funded by donors from every state in the union—blue, red, and purple, all part of a community of readers who care about the future of our democracy.

We’re independent from corporations and uninfluenced by those in power. Our commitment is solely to the truth. That’s only possible because of readers like you, who believe in the importance of independent, fearless journalism.

Be the reason these stories get told. Make a donation today.

The truth needs defenders. Be one.

This week is our Spring Membership Drive, and we need to raise 1,000 new donations to fund the critical investigations our team is hard at work on. As of today, we’re only at 200 of that 1,000-donation goal.

Our nonprofit newsroom is funded by donors from every state in the union—blue, red, and purple, all part of a community of readers who care about the future of our democracy.

We’re independent from corporations and uninfluenced by those in power. Our commitment is solely to the truth. That’s only possible because of readers like you, who believe in the importance of independent, fearless journalism.

Be the reason these stories get told. Make a donation today.

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate