Shalom and happy Tuesday to you, my friends. I’m assuming you thought I gave up on this precious piece of electronic journalism, but let me assure you I have not. I am back and more enthused than ever on the dawn of this incredible new decade. A decade filled with limitless possibilities and unfathomable promise. 2010 has been mighty generous to me thus far, with people, opportunities and of course, music. So I am here to delve into the last of those three for your reading pleasure. More specifically, I am here to review Yeasayer’s new album Odd Blood.
1. The Children
The clunk and clank of a mysterious forced march of caught bandits in some futuristic landscape bring in the reverberations and voice manipulation of Chris Keating, very similar to what you might hear from The Knife, rendering him almost completely unintelligible. From an instrumental standpoint, you’ll hear some nice pianos, xylophone and even a faint horn. This is such a unique and interesting way to start off, I’m convinced the song is used as a secret code to invite the listener to expand their mind for the duration of the album.
2. Ambling Alp
The Children fades serenely into the first few notes of Ambling Alp and you immediately know this song is going to rip your heart out, if only by the first few soulful and precision-laden drum beats. Plainly put, this is an epic song with a killer hook. I think another reviewer put it best when likening it to Peter Gabriel in his “Shock the Monkey” pop brilliance days. Chris Keating’s voice demands attention and owns every square mile of this song. He is in his finest form vocally and leaves you wanting for more. Lyrically, an electronic lesson-filled tune paying homage to classics such as “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens as Keating sings “And if anyone should cheat you, take advantage of or beat you, raise your head and wear your wounds with pride.”
3. Madder Red
Vocals. Vocals. Vocals. And group ones at that. Melodic war cries, wailing for understanding. Talk about paying your respect to the 80′s. Almost Toto-ish at times with the harmonies and some resounding electronic drum beats eerily similar to any Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album, but don’t let that scare you. If this album will prove one thing, it will be that Yeasayer loves to layer. Sounds upon effects upon sounds. They’re aiming to be the mixologists of the music industry. Another catchy chorus that will send shivers down your spine and won’t leave your head for hours.
4. I Remember
A true love song, Lou Gramm and the rest of Foreigner would be proud. Frantic synth slides into monstrous and gripping drum beats that may or may not be ripped off from the “Chariots of Fire” theme. Keating’s falsetto so haunting it takes you back to holding your first love as he wails “You’re stuck on my mind, all the time” over and over.
5. O.N.E.
If you go to the Yeasayer myspace page (myspace.com/yeasayer) you will notice that their headline reads “Enya with Bounce.” Never is this more apparent than in the song O.N.E. From the get-go, you are immediately whisked away to a foreign land, you might even want to call it “Storms of Africa” hyped up on adderall. Other than Enya’s influence, this is definitely a tune for all you Animal Collective lovers out there, lots of energy and lots of squelchy synths. This tune will make you move.
6. Love Me Girl
Initially the most rave-esque of all the tunes and just when you think it’s going to explode, the song shifts into a psychadelic drum-induced beat fest. Keating, seeming to have had some romantic hardships during the making of this album sings “What is she covering up? What is she lying about?” amidst the harmonies of the rest of the band. Housey piano and interspliced Birds of Paradise noises round this clever tune out.
7. Rome
Danceable Marimba-infused song that happens to be a little too Lou Bega for my taste. Yeasayer really holding strong on the exotic animal sounds, leaves one feeling as if you’re at the zoo a bit. Over-processed beats, a blurry and stubborn bass line holds the song while crooked keyboard lines and Keating’s vocals weave in and out of each other in their own global shuffle.
8. Strange Reunions
A technical technicolored dreamcoat of wordly sounds. And of course, some birds, but I don’t mind. The sitar is warmly welcomed and the clapping on “Strange Reunions” is reminiscent of their song “Tightrope” one of my favorites from their contribution to Dark was the Night.
9. Mondegreen
Whop Whack Whop Whack Whop Whack, the thudding beats will hypnotize your tapping foot until your rhythmic extremity no longer has a will of its own. A sexy tune that has Keating confessing “Everyone’s talking ’bout me and my baby/making love to the morning light.” A spastic clap-along for the indie kids.
10. Grizelda
Doing what they do best, using clapping to it’s fullest. How they make it work in a psychedelic folk lullaby escapes me. But I love it. Layers of vocals, including Keating’s falsetto for the last time. This song will send you off to dreams of futuristic faraway lands.
Yeasayer- “I Remember”
Yeasayer- “Madder Red”
