Best in Music: January 2007 Edition

Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (Polyvinyl)

Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? may be the darkest and, quite possibly, the most personal record Kevin Barnes have ever put together—and you would never know it while listening to the album. The lyrics are bleak and ominous; although sonically, it’s anything but. Hyperactive basslines and swirling synths mask confessionals that pour out immense amounts of emotion, heartbreak, and desolation into these twelve tracks. The mood of this eighth album could not have been anticipated, having spent much of his career trolling character-based escapist storytelling for lyrics. But after a year of going through a temporary separation with his wife and a new child, it gives songwriter Barnes plenty to brood over. It’s perfectly obvious how he has forgone sly-winking verses when his plate is this full. A less ingenious musician in the same situation would probably resort to an angst-ridden lamentation, so it’s admirable how effectively Barnes has disguised his bereaved personal affairs and heart-on-sleeve compositions with a strutting electro-disco-punk effort. However, deceptively appearing something that it’s not is nothing new to Barnes and the gang—Of Montreal isn’t really of Montreal, but of Athens, GA—so it may not be surprising that they’re this good at pretending.

[Gronlandic Edit | A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger | She's A Rejecter]

The Shins – Wincing The Night Away (Sub Pop)

Thanks to their induction as life-changers via Natalie Portman’s headphones in “Garden State”, The Shins have risen from an indie secret to being the most readily available indie band in HMV. It makes sense, obviously, that a third full-length to follow-up the breakthrough has gathered monumental anticipation. And now that The Shins have witnessed their concert audience grow, they may be weary to develop their lo-fi guitar pop to something more amplified. Thankfully, Wincing The Night Away accustoms to this pressure without disappointment. Lush orchestration and electronic beats appear where mildly accentuated guitar strums existed in the past, producing a louder album than what you are used to from them. This has split the opinions of Shin faithfuls between “matured” and “burdened by ambition”; however, it becomes apparent after a few spins that the debate about this very noticeable spare sound should be forgotten. The Shins are beloved due to James Mercer’s uncanny ability to create joyful melodies that attaches to the tiny bones in your ears. Moreover, it’s uplifted this time around with a newfound confidence and range in his vocals. Wincing shows how remarkable it is that the life-changing melody can adhere to any backing sound thrown its way, complex or not.

[Sleeping Lessons | Phantom Limb | Red Rabbits]

Six Parts Seven – Casually Smashed To Pieces (Suicide Squeeze)

Let me start off by saying that if post-rock isn’t your thing, you probably should stop reading now. The usual description can be applied here—it’s more concerned with sound and texture than melodies, it swells to peaks, and it’s entirely instrumental. These guitar-oriented post-rockers from Kent, OH and their new album, Casually Smashed To Pieces, probably wouldn’t sway your preconceived negative opinion about the genre. But if you’re already a fan and you’re reading this, chances are you already know what I’m going to say. The undistorted guitar interplay produces soft, layered music, executing the formula without flaws. There are no gimmicks here, no real conceptual hooks, nothing but skillful musicians who play guitar, bass and drums (and the occasional horns and lap steel guitar), and don't sing. There are no elaborate narratives, no anthemic choruses, just sound. Indeed, the sound can be hypnotizing, but that doesn’t mean that Casually Smashed is dull by any means. The whole album echoes and reverberates in your head, billowing and receding, ambient in so far as they do not demand attention, although they richly reward it. It’s relaxing, which is ideal for the times when you demand a good soothe. Anyway, this disc can be a great inclusion to your post-rock collection.

[Stolen Moments | Knock At My Door | Falling Over Everything]