Mondo (album)

Development and release

Mondo features heavy production, and draws from genres such as synth-pop, R&B, Motown-style soul, slacker California rock, psychedelia, and bubblegum pop. With encouragement from Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton, Taccone and his roommate, Michael Compton, refined their songs into an album from 2009 to 2011.

Track listing

1. "Holes" (2:45)
2. "This Head I Hold" (2:55)
3. "Under the Gun" (3:42)
4. "Awake" (5:00)
5. "Amber" (3:50)
6. "The Bait" (3:06)
7. "Waves" (3:06)
8. "Troubleman" (8:48)
9. "American Daydream" (2:48)
10. "Control" (2:18)
11. "Holiday" (3:08) [Japan Bonus Track]
12. "Jenny" (4:15) [Japan Bonus Track]

Reception

Reviews for Mondo were mixed. The New York Times called the album "recession-era pop" with "wistful ballads, that are far more concerned about careers and ethical choices than about the ups and downs of love." Despite questioning the album's sincerity, Rolling Stone called the album "L.A. slacker soul, full of hooky neon jams" and "sonic wit." In one tepid review, PopMatters asserted that Mondo "serves as much as an introduction to a promising new as it does a reminder of a major producing talent." Less flatteringly, and remarking on Taccone's numerous connections in the music industry, Pitchfork said Mondo is a "cautionary tale of what happens when a 'hit record' forgets to actually include hits."