Music Banter - View Single Post

Paedantic Basterd · 05-31-2011, 06:13 PM

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (2011)

Whatever. It's Fleet Foxes. Bucolic harmonies for wind swept prairies. I enjoyed this on their self-titled effort, but I was not particularly interested by the sequel.

Panda Bear - Tomboy (2011)

The alternate title I would have given to this album is Enough Reverb Already. I've never really seen the merits of Animal Collective, and after evaluating both Tomboy and Person Pitch, believe this to be Panda Bear's fault. I heard nothing on Tomboy to separate it from the prior album, and quickly grew tired of the incessant, loudly produced vocals. If one is going to use the same texture in all of his music, it devalues the originality of the work.

Elbow - Build a Rocket, Boys! (2011)

Most of my experience with Elbow's fifth album has been in a live setting, having seen the band tour the album twice this past March. I was surprised at the time to see most of the set comprised of songs from their previous breakthrough album The Seldom Seen Kid. After hearing Build a Rocket in album format, I am grateful they played so little of it. It isn't that Rocket is inherently bad, but simply inferior to its predecessor. It expounds upon Seldom Seen's alternative rock sound, but without any of its snark or thoughtfulness.

Rocket is knee deep in uplifting love ballads with so many triumphant swells it borders on tackiness, plus a couple of actually great songs tossed on top. Opening with one of my favourite songs of the year, The Birds, and gradually declines thereafter. While completely listenable, it remains a shame that it came from one of my most anticipated albums of the year.

Destroyer - Kaputt (2011)

My relationship with Dan Bejar is one of failsafe disappointment. I was equally disinclined towards City of Daughters and Destroyer's Rubies, Without exception, the Dan Bejar trio of songs on every New Pornographers album has been my least favourite tracks. You'd expect by now I'd have given up trying to gain any ground with him at all, but to my surprise, my perseverance has paid off.

Kaputt proves one of the year's better releases, and reminds me why it's important to remain open-minded. In the case of this album, patience rewards the listener with a suave album of smooth sophistipop reminiscent of 80s pop, and inflected with jazz. Kaputt is a great example of classic restraint. If only Bejar had continued to exercise it when he followed up with the compilation Ideas For Songs, and I don't just mean musically.

05-31-2011, 06:13 PM	#50 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (2011) Whatever. It's Fleet Foxes. Bucolic harmonies for wind swept prairies. I enjoyed this on their self-titled effort, but I was not particularly interested by the sequel. Panda Bear - Tomboy (2011) The alternate title I would have given to this album is Enough Reverb Already. I've never really seen the merits of Animal Collective, and after evaluating both Tomboy and Person Pitch, believe this to be Panda Bear's fault. I heard nothing on Tomboy to separate it from the prior album, and quickly grew tired of the incessant, loudly produced vocals. If one is going to use the same texture in all of his music, it devalues the originality of the work. Elbow - Build a Rocket, Boys! (2011) Most of my experience with Elbow's fifth album has been in a live setting, having seen the band tour the album twice this past March. I was surprised at the time to see most of the set comprised of songs from their previous breakthrough album The Seldom Seen Kid. After hearing Build a Rocket in album format, I am grateful they played so little of it. It isn't that Rocket is inherently bad, but simply inferior to its predecessor. It expounds upon Seldom Seen's alternative rock sound, but without any of its snark or thoughtfulness. Rocket is knee deep in uplifting love ballads with so many triumphant swells it borders on tackiness, plus a couple of actually great songs tossed on top. Opening with one of my favourite songs of the year, The Birds, and gradually declines thereafter. While completely listenable, it remains a shame that it came from one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Destroyer - Kaputt (2011) My relationship with Dan Bejar is one of failsafe disappointment. I was equally disinclined towards City of Daughters and Destroyer's Rubies, Without exception, the Dan Bejar trio of songs on every New Pornographers album has been my least favourite tracks. You'd expect by now I'd have given up trying to gain any ground with him at all, but to my surprise, my perseverance has paid off. Kaputt proves one of the year's better releases, and reminds me why it's important to remain open-minded. In the case of this album, patience rewards the listener with a suave album of smooth sophistipop reminiscent of 80s pop, and inflected with jazz. Kaputt is a great example of classic restraint. If only Bejar had continued to exercise it when he followed up with the compilation Ideas For Songs, and I don't just mean musically.