quickcrit - music reviews

No one can say that Yeasayer is simply trying to fit in (20 seconds of the video below will make this abundantly clear). If anything, this Brooklyn-based group channels creativity and originality into every ounce of sound they muster up, which is why it is so damn strange that Odd Blood reminds me of early '80s Jethro Tull. ¿Qué? you say. Allow me to explain: Odd Blood mixes quirky electronic sound with a range of other instrumental rhythm and is a cross between the synthesizer sounds of the 1980s and a folk-influenced, world-beat style. Interestingly enough, that very sentence could describe Tull's 1982 release Broadsword and the Beast, which is one of those lost gems you could probably pick up on vinyl at your local thrift store. I know this sounds strange, but listen to any song off of Broadsword and then listen to "Madder Red" or "Ambling Alp" off of Odd Blood and tell me I'm wrong. Maybe it is the vocal tonality that really makes the comparison work, but the music from some select tracks works as well. Regardless of your feelings toward Tull, this album is fun, upbeat and as expected from Yeasayer, a lotta bit trippy. Yeasayer even managed to weave in some dance beats like they did on All Hour Cymbals, which for people not as accepting of the slightly strange, should help make the music accessible. (Warning: Video NSFW).
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"Ambling Alp" is a pretty cool song, but I like watching the video for the demonstration of practial facial massage techniques.

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp from Spy Films on Vimeo.

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz (specifically the first 2 tracks)

"Time To Pretend" is one of my favorite side-one-track-one's this year. How can you deny the dreamy and youthful optimism of a line like: "I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw, I'm in the prime of my life. / Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives" before continuing the emotional arc into nostalgia and then fatalism, all squeezed into 4 minutes of beautiful beats. It kicks off an album that continues to sprawl all over the place. It's atmospheric and psychedelic, yet glammy and danceable. While it seems experimental, it's built on the familiar. It touches on the Flaming Lips, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Yeasayer, and plenty of other cool bands you might already love. While this could turn out a complete and derivative mess, somehow they make it work as a cohesive album. I don't think the rest of the songs make as good singles, but also check out "Kids" and "Pieces Of What."