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If The Teenagers (made up of lead singer Quentin Delafon, guitarist/synth man Dorian Dumont and bassist Michael Szpiner) are an acquired taste, then here’s hoping I never acquire that sort of taste. While I am certain the French alterna-pop trio created the exact album they envisioned, it comes across as trivial, repetitive, and not very amusing.

Although labeled “alternative,” Reality Check is very electronic with heavy synthesizers and distorted guitars that may seem original at first, but gradually overstay their welcome by the end of the album. Listening to all fourteen tracks, each song easily melded into the next with nary a melodic distinction that might make for an acceptable club-ready dance record, but not much else.

While all members of The Teenagers are admitted twenty-somethings, they attempt to tap lyrically into the drama of adolescence. Sadly, it seems they imagine adolescence to only be synonymous with superficiality and vulgarity. Even ignoring the excessive profanity, nearly every song seems to be a very one-dimensional account of some sexual encounter or relationship disaster. The simplistic lyrics and meaningless scenarios come across as vapid and unmoving.

The most annoying aspect of Reality Check, however, would have to be Delafon’s half-sung/half-spoken vocals. Yes, I understand the whole disaffected youth vibe the record is shooting for, but there’s nothing impressive about a “singer” who talks his way through almost an entire album. Additionally, the rare occasions where Delafon does actually sing aren’t exactly earth-shattering. The perfect example is the album’s latest single Starlett Johansson. While the lyrics are mildly amusing (if only to decipher the Scarlett Johansson references), Delafon might as well be having a conversation given the small amount of singing he does.

So here’s a reality check: this album is not good. Maybe The Teenagers are trying too hard to be cool or maybe I’m not cool enough to appreciate them. Either way, Reality Check’s brand of electro-pop does little other than try to titillate listeners and even that gets old pretty quickly.