Yeasayer is a good enough power-alt-psych-electro-pop group from Brooklyn whose last album Odd Blood got a pretty decent review from me. The may even get a shot on Nik's next album. This album is a little different. Electronic machines still drone out odd rhythmic beats while synthesized sounds lay the be for a song that may have been Duran Duran or Material Issue if they'd had more at their disposal in 1984. But there is still modern dynamicism. "Blue Paper" for example, has a real interesting frayed guitar solo that could be Robert Fripp on ProTools.
The lyrics hold some promise with "Folk Hero Schtick", or "Longevity": "All the rain promises is to give life to the seeds / Live in the moment. Never count on longevity."
Praise aside, there is a major difference between this album and the last. Fragrant World has an odor about it. Odd Blood seemed more earthy, authentic- the vocals seemed more organic. This new one seems synthetic and processed from the airy distorted vocal to the plethora of blips and burps. The mess of "Devil and the Deed" is the worst example.
In the end, Yeasayer simply spend 48 minutes making more sounds than songs. And in Denmark, that doesn't smell right. (2 of 5 stars)
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