MS MR

Secondhand Rapture (Columbia)

Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow did what countless Brooklynites have done: They started a Tumblr. They steadily released what would eventually become debut Secondhand Rapture without revealing their identity. Now that the secret and their full-length is out, Ms Mr may not have the occult-like mystique they initially created, but they’ve hatched a decent bedroom synth-pop collection. “Hurricane” sets the hazy, foreboding tone of Secondhand Rapture, lightened by Plapinger’s bouncing vocals and furthered in “Dark Doo Wop” and “Bones,” both delivering pop noir licks. The problem arises when the twosome ventures off this safe pattern. Glaringly, “Head Is Not My Home” tilts far too Florence + the Machine grandiose. Ms Mr shows off good ideas, but they’ll need to focus a little less on digital presentation and more on songwriting. (1:30pm, AMD stage)

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This article appears in October 4 • 2013.

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