Despite my lack of posts over the past 1.5 months, it’s actually been a rather busy summer for me in terms of new music. A visit from Scott and his hardrive about a month ago combined with a couple visits to New York (and Other Music) have resulted in quite a few good additions to my library. Let’s start with the new albums…
WU LYF — Go Tell Fire To The Mountain (2011)
Been hearing quite a bit about these guys recently and I’d say the hype is definitely not unfounded. Solid melodic, semi-noisy, atmospheric sound (the album was recorded live in a church — complete with a heavy dose of organ) driven by my all-time favorite attribute of a band: a crappy singer (which sounds strangely similar to the guys from Evacuee). I wish they would let loose and really rock out with either a blast of noise — a la Mogwai — or a fast-tempoed number from time to time but overall, a good debut.
CIOIYL: Evacuee, lotsa reverb bc we recorded in a church yo, to sing along and make up words to songs because you don’t know/care what the guy is actually singing.
The Antlers — Burst Apart (2011)
Don’t own their album Hospice but this one definitely makes me want to pick it up at some point. While I wouldn’t say there’s anything really groundbreaking here, the production is nuanced and engaging enough to keep me listening. This one is especially good for a late-night walk around the city.
CIOIYL: down-tempo atmospheric pop with an electronic edge, slower Pinback, M83, recent Spiritualized.
Dope Body — Nupping (2011)
I’ve been really excited about these guys recently. Imagine a combination of Fugazi and Lightening Bolt where Fugazi supplies the vocals and the borderline melodic songwriting and Lightening Bolt chips in a bit of tempo and schizophrenia. Definitely recommended.
CIOIYL: a Fugazi/Lightening Bolt baby man-child, Big Black, Girls Against Boys, to sweat when you listen to music.
David Bazan — Strange Negotiations (2011)
I love Dave Bazan. Between his work in Pedro The Lion, Headphones, and his solo material, I think he’s up there in the ever-expanding, over-used, and highly controversial list of under-appreciated artists from the last few decades. He simply writes beautiful, soulful songs that trend toward the melancholic just enough to give the sound that edge that sounds perfect if you’re in the right mood.
CIOIYL: any other Bazan-related material, to actually listen to the lyrics.
WU LYF was also a nice surprise for me. Just a really fun album to listen to the whole way through. I made an initial gut reaction comparison to an Explosions in the Sky meets Modest Mouse lovechild, but with a worse singer (as noted already, but which can be a good thing depending on the band – in this case it works), and lyrics that I can make out, but don’t really need to to enjoy the music.
Regarding The Antlers, their first album, Hospice, is quite different than Burst Apart on a couple levels that make it interesting, if not taxing, to listen to. The whole album is essentially an overwrought narrative that stretches through all the songs; melodies repeat at different moments along the way, connecting seemingly disconnected elements. Sylivia Plath makes a few appearances, and by the end you either are either sobbing like a baby about just how sad the whole damn thing is, or not really into and ready to move onto something else. I was in the former category, but I am a sap, so there we go. Worth a listen though for sure.
Oh and hello to this blog. That was my first post ever.
AHA! Finally got you to post something!
Agreed on the WU LYF comparison, though as I mentioned, I’d love to hear them mix it up a bit in terms of tempo and/or getting a little darker (see Modest Mouse — “The Stars Are Projectors”, etc.). As for The Antlers, I had no idea that they had put out two albums before Hospice. I’m definitely going to pick up Hospice, but I was pretty intrigued by the other two as well based on a few clips. Do you own either?
I think Hospice was the first full album released by the band in its current state as a trio, but Peter Silbermann released two albums he had put together by himself basically before this (and the release of a couple EPs with the group that inform the elements on Hospice im pretty sure.) I only have Hospice and Burst Apart, but am also excited to check out some of the older stuff.