Foster The People's Underrated Masterpiece: Sacred Hearts Club

Hey, everyone 

Six years after Foster The People released “Torches” the band dropped “Sacred Hearts Club” on July 21, 2017. This time around, the beats and music were more danceable than its predecessors since the lineup was also totally different. Since founding member Cubbie Fink exited the band in 2015, it was time for touring musicians Sean Cimino and Isom Innis to join the fold. This change was far from ordinary. It literally meant uprooting their foundation for a complete reinvention. This is “Sacred Hearts Club”. 

“Sacred Hearts Club” is the third effort from Los Angeles rock band Foster The People, which, unlike the first two albums, actually breaks away from the mold, and has fun doing it. First thing's first, FTP released a three-track EP “III” on April 27, 2017. It features “Pay The Man”, “Doing It For The Money,” and “SHC”. This extended play teased the dawn of a new era following the seriousness of 2014's “Supermodel”. It was a smart move to reconnect to some of the funner aspects of “Torches” while venturing into the unknown, and exploring new territory they did. 

Now that Cimino and Innis gave the band a facelift, it was time for Foster The People to experiment in ways they'd never done before. Some may argue these distinct sounds were cacophonous and unnecessary, but I think that's what makes this album an instant banger. “Sacred Hearts Club” tried a new approach which set the tone for the next chapter of the band's career. 

In my humble opinion, it's great to hear the boys playing more rock with “Lotus Eater” and “SHC” or even attempting dreamy shoegaze with the closer “III”. The more hip hop inspired songs “Harden The Paint” and “Pay The Man” also make for a good time during the summer months. Cruising down the street in a convertible blaring this album must definitely be a liberating experience.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room, which would be, “Loyal Like Sid and Nancy”. The first time I heard “Sacred Hearts Club” was actually 2023 when I was undergoing major anxiety, yet these tracks lifted me up the most. I actually loved “Loyal Like Sid and Nancy” the most out of every song. In a world full of short attention spans, I think albums like this are going to be the future, but that's not a bad thing. In fact, it's skillfully concocted to keep you addicted until the end. 

The best thing about SHC is the constant shifts between textures and sonically satisfying sound spheres that keep things exciting. The interludes “Orange Dream” and “Time To Get Closer”, Jenna Malone's vocals on “Static Space Lovers”, and psychedelic punk rock guitar are what keeps the spice alive in all the right places. Not to berate “Torches” or “Supermodel”, because they're master class albums, but I appreciate the added effort of “Sacred Hearts Club”. I understand fans may not have liked the sharp contrast of sounds yet I think that's the beauty of it.

Prior to doing this write up, I noticed YouTube reviewers reached a similar conclusion in that the first two albums melded together. However, "SHC" is refined in such a way it differentiates every track from the previous one so it's easy to remember one song from the next. “Sacred Hearts Club” is criminally underrated in the shadow of “Torches”, but it stands tall and confident in its own light.

The album's aesthetic is beautiful with hot pinks, purples, and neon reds just like the sun on a late summer evening. Foster The People released a limited amount of "SHC" pressed on hot pink vinyl which I hope they release again. This is definitive proof that “Sacred Hearts Club” is the best thing since sliced bread.