Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Times New Viking - Dancer Equired

Decided to try a new thing on this time. TNV is a lo-fi garage band from Columbus that sounds like every other lo-fi garage band anywhere. It's being said that this is the most "produced" album of the eight they've put out, which sounds odd considering is still slipshod and muddy.

The drums are low key and mostly quiet. The guitar is a mild fuzz Fender. The vocals are doubled by guy and a chick and are always distantly echoed. Each vocal melody follows the guitar melody exactly. Prototypical, all of it. And boring. I could stand the sameness if the songs had any individual dynamics. But they don't.

One possible exception is "Try Harder". The riff here includes bending guitar strings, producing a wobbly effect. Then the rolling grunge riff moves along like a lawnmower that slightly dies, then restarts. But other than that, you won't find much to point to with any affection. (1.5 of 5 stars)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

O'Death - Outside

O'Death is an "alternative country" band from Brooklyn, but you should be making no comparisons to any Uncle Tupelo, or really anything branching off the rock weather vane from the Hank Williams source. O'Death - or at least this release - focuses more on a dark, murder-ballad tradition of Ralph Stanley with a booming orchestration. The traditional elements are there. Violins, mandolins. And an echo chamber and seventy-two percussion instruments. That's what I'm talking about when I say "booming".

I can also draw comparisons away from the current crop of folk stars, the Avett Brothers, Mumford And Sons, etc. The tone is decidedly morose, for one. (Can't wait to hear the first romantic prom sung by O'Death) And the harmonies and pretty sounds that come from the aforementioned Grammy performers is also lacking. Not that it's a bad thing. Greg Jamie's vocals are tinny and small. I maybe even feel like it's deceptively so. As if he's constantly trying to sound like he's hiding in the woods, too close to impending danger.

But the album doesn't rest in the same murky puddle throughout the entire record. "Pushing Out", for example, has all the same elements as its predecessors, but seems brighter and hopeful somehow. Like Decemberists, or even Margot & the Nuclear So and So's. There's an awkward vocal breakdown in the middle, that somehow makes the track more childish and endearing. It's not as precious as "Home", but nice nonetheless.

A haunting collection that should be a part of your next child's funeral. (3 of 5 stars)

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light

TV's latest unfortunately gets marred by tragedy as bassist Gerard Smith died soon after it's release. But the lung cancer surely did not weigh on the minds of anyone as the album was being written and recorded. This new one balances on the fence between the nation's financial frustrations and otherwise lightly dances romantically in the moonlight.

The album is bookended upbeatly by opening and closing tracks, "Second Song" and "Caffeinated Consciousness" respectively. Nothing hits as frantically as "Dancing Choose" did last time around, but they are strong tracks nonetheless.

On the other hand, I was a little disappointed at the lilting romantic tracks. In the past, TV have hit the nail on the sensual head with songs like "Wear You Out" and "Lover's Day".  This time, they move to a more commercial element with "Keep Your Heart" and "You". And while I wouldn't call "Killer Crane" commercial, I am confused by its inclusion. A mellow hippie excursion about a crane crossing the sky after the rain with rainbows. Cosmic.

There are some standout tracks though. While the aforementioned "You" is decidedly commercial, it's also quite good, successful in its prom themed intentions. Also, "No Future Shock" is a scathing dance track lamenting a serious lack of hope. Still a well-rounded enough effort that's worth a spin. (3.5 of 5 stars)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On

At the onset of this new Polaris award nominated record from this Canadian band, I immediately think of another Indie Folk group, Indiana's Murder By Death. Both have that flavorful storytelling gene. Both employ the dark side of human nature and express with minor chords and violins/cellos and low-registered vocals.

And at the end of this record, I don't mind saying that I give MbD the edge. They're a little more dynamic musically. Virtually everything included on Creep is based around lilting '50s pop kind of piano chords. So, everything has a similar flare. The exceptions are the three instrumentals. Which is a lot of instrumentals when you only have ten songs and they serve no purpose but to further along a swampy imagery.

But amoung the other songs are some real standouts. Clearly (if you know me) I'm going to pick the most obnoxiously wordsmithy of the bunch to call out as a favorite. The title track kicks off it's lyrical tale with the phrase, "From your chair, my narrative tonight is your dickless cousin, brother, father, pet, friend, husband or wife" and then goes from there.

On the contrary though, I'm also suprisingly enamored by the simplest tune on the record, "Woman". It's got some of that creepy romanticism of the Flamingos' "I Only Have Eyes For You" mixed with an uncharacteristically psychedelic stomp. Maybe its the filthy implications behind his description of putting the "mouth to middle", but I think that my next conquest might just say yes if my seduction followed this soundtrack.

The only true throwaway is "Too Old to Die Young", which does little more than repeat that he's "givin' it all up." Sound like he gave up trying to finish a song. So I guess I'd be surprised that someone considered giving this an award... but is worth a spin. (3 of 5 stars)