Millennial Pop-Rock Duo's Nostalgic Blast from the Past Fails to Captivate

In the last few months, the Los Angeles pop duo After has gained attention on social media for their self-titled EPs released this year. Vocalist Justine Dorsey and producer Graham Epstein, who often resemble the visual aesthetic of the duo Frou Frou, are the closest thing to Y2K time travelers. However, their debut work is more of a nostalgic cash-in than a compelling artistic statement.

The duo's simulations of early 2000s radio-friendly subgenres, such as breakbeat pop, are technically impressive but ultimately lack originality and emotional impact. Tracks like "300 dreams" and "Deep Diving" faithfully recreate the sounds of that era, from Dorsey's Coldplay-esque vocals to the familiar chord progressions. Yet, the songwriting decisions often fracture the nostalgic lull, leaving the listener unsatisfied.

Attempts to evoke the emotional resonance of acts like Frou Frou, such as on "Where we are now," fall flat as Dorsey and Epstein fail to capture the dynamism and vulnerability that made those earlier works so compelling. Instead, their robotic ponderings meander over a zombified version of the affective synthwork that inspired their band name.

Overall, After's bland, unimaginative rehashes of the early 2000s pop-rock sound may appeal to some nostalgic listeners, but they ultimately fail to offer anything new or captivating to the modern musical landscape.