The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
So, I’m a big Decemberists fan but to my dismay they’ve reproduced much of the hard electric-guitar-laden sound that made parts of The Crane Wife unlikable to me. I miss the accordion-laden Decemberists of yore. On this album, I really only liked the interludes and the song Isn’t it a Lovely Night but there seems to be a self-consciousness in it; like maybe it reminds me too much of Lou Reed’s pomp in I’m Sticking With You, I don’t know. This album certainly reminds me of The Tain but lacking the clever lyrics, the segues and the charm.
Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career
So fun! I adore their pop-sensibility and lyric-imagery. Full songs with violins, triumphant ooohs and decent drum fills. Beautiful ballads and gorgeous vocals. Their style hasn’t changed at all really over the years (save a fuller sound), but that’s why it’s good.
Röyksopp – Junior
I’m enjoying this album. At times it reminds me of the band aRTIST oF tHE yEAR and at times Air. There is some great instrumentation on this: violins on Röyksopp Forever. I think I’ll listen to this alongside the new Telefone Tel Aviv album which I’ve also been enjoying. Tricky Tricky features vocals from Karin of The Knife and it is nice and dark (and bouncy) like a song by The Knife.
So the lesson is: Bands, stop changing your sound!!!!!!!
Ha, j/k.
