Best in Music: October 2006 Edition
Subtle – For Hero: For Fool (Astralwerks) I was unfamiliar of Subtle before this. I’ve never listened to their album A New White or their four home-recorded EPs so I’m lunging into this completely blind and without any preconceived notion. I’ve heard somewhere that this is a great hip-hop record. But this isn’t hip-hop to me, it’s something completely alien. There’s a beat, but it doesn’t backbone the songs like an orthodox hip-hop album would. You’re never certain where the bass, synths, guitars, and cello are heading towards next and it’s probably best to never question the path and just hang on for the ride. And, Doseone is rapping. But there are no hooks or choruses to speak of and the verses are painted in sporadically. The words are flying through your thoughts too speedily to gain a valid recognition of what is being said, but that’s not where the attraction lies anyway. You pay for the flow, which is not so much a flow but an accent to the hazy aural landscape it’s surrounded with. Nevertheless, it’s the most unparalleled flow I’ve ever witnessed. To say that Subtle pushes boundaries is an understatement; the contemporary boundaries are vaporized completely to a point where there are no remnants of it to distinctly justify that it ever existed. No, it isn’t hip-hop to me, but it’s definitely one of the best records I’ve heard this year.
[A Tale Of Apes II | Midas Gutz | Return Of The Vein]
The Decemberists – The Crane Wife (Capitol)
Following a career promotion from indie Kill Rock Stars to big league Capitol, a lot of old fans of the Portland quintet had been wondering if a change in label situation can be pulled off satisfyingly without compromising too much of their whimsy songs-from-the-sea differentia. After all, a jump to the majors usually sparks an outcry of “sellouts” from the indier-than-thou faithfuls, believing that musicians habitually sacrifice artistic merit when financial motives are involved. Well, The Decemberists’ major label debut, The Crane Wife, stands as evidence against the skeptics. Not only is none of the quality compromised, The Decemberists emerge improved, sounding more polished than before. The guitars jangle more clearly, the drums march with more precision, and Colin Meloy’s vocals serenade with more resonance. The accordion fades into the back, acting as a less grating cadence to the more proficient folk-rock production. But, The Decemberists’ allure is Meloy’s inventive storytelling and, thankfully, The Crane Wife still boasts that feature. As always, the attributes and the tales of his protagonists effloresce entrancingly within the time and structure confines of the song. So, skeptics shouldn’t fret, a better transition to the majors couldn't have been imagined for The Decemberists.
[Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home) | Shankhill Butchers | The Crane Wife, Pts. 1 & 2]
Annuals – Be He Me (Ace Fu)
It’s astounding how quickly blogs work. Once a new track is leaked, judgments are spread immediately, pixels unveiling their back story are printed in an instant, and the band responsible for it goes from being unearthed to being reveled as the next big thing faster than a speeding bullet. The plausibility of the buzz isn’t always reliable, but there are some cases where it’s well-warranted. Take Raleigh, North Carolina’s Annuals, the latest internet success story. This collective comes out of the gate with confidence, uniting piano romps, acoustic guitar picking, radiant string arrangements, aberrant noises, and aggressive rock riffs into an astonishing hazy arrangement. Annuals’ new music specializes on musical misdirection: some tracks are taken from folk frailty to balls-to-the-wall exhilaration, others from pop familiarity to multi-instrumental kaleidoscopes. The sonic transitions are always unpredictable, but they’re neither forced nor dizzying. Adam Baker’s vocals are reminiscent to the charming slur of Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew and deepened by decaying melodies, it’s a perfect front for the aural reverie they are trying to accomplish. Their zero-to-hero story may not be as substantial as those of Arcade Fire or Wolf Parade, but their debut, Be He Me, is still worth talking about.
Comments