Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Grizzly Bear
Veckatimest
(05.2009, Warp Records)
Verdict: Lives up to the hype. Don't be a hater.

After touring with Radiohead, Grizzly Bear's popularity is in tip-top shape, making Veckatimest clearly one of the most anticipated albums of 2009. When I first started hearing all the hype I was a little confused, since I thought Yellow House was a little on the dull side of things. However, I did like Department of Eagles quite a bit and was definitely interested in what this crew had up their sleeves. At first, the catchy as can be "Two Weeks" grabbed me in a strangle hold, and then as I was lying there in surrender, the rest of the album, every single gorgeous track, repeatedly attacked me until I was in complete submission. Now, "Two Weeks" is one of my least favorite tracks (not that I don't still love it) and the other tracks have proven their worth through wonderful diversity of mood and a swelling and pulsing sound washing over you in waves of luscious melody. I love it. Don't be fooled by any backlash to the hype, cause that's all it is, backlash to hype, not a backlash to the actual album. This album lives up to it's potential in every way. Veckatimest's sweet chamber pop is subtle enough to keep you listening over and over, but not so subtle that it's impossible to enter. It's immediately enjoyable, and repetitively more enjoyable. Gorgeous!

-lil' Sass

Click here to watch the GB get their weird on in the music video for "Two Weeks"

Prefuse 73 - Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian

Prefuse 73
Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian
(04.2009, Warp)
RIYL = Flying Lotus, Onra, Kemialliset Ystavat…seriously

I don’t know how to express my joy in this new release by Scott Herren as Prefuse 73. I have been a long time follower of his magic and, really, there is nothing he has done under this particular artistic guise that isn’t worth listening to. In fact, everything was far above par until the slight (and only slight) stumble with his last album, Preparations. With Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian everything I’ve ever loved about Prefuse is back and refurbished, refreshed and ridiculously re-energized. This album flows like a glorious mixtape, and as such, is a mixtape to destroy all previous mixtapes! Forget your dub-loving DJ/Rupture worship. Sure, Uproot has its merit, but Ampexian is where it is at. In re-imagining the Prefuse 73 sound, Scott Herren has built a monstrosity that seems to have outgrown him in the best way. Logging an overwhelming 29 tracks of all shapes, lengths, sizes and sounds, Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian is ambitious and packed with millions of fresh ideas. It's kaleidoscopic, mind melting electronics that turn on a dime. There are about a dozen or so shifts that just leave your jaw hanging at their utter ridiculousness. One in particular happens early on when the first few brief tracks transition gloriously with “Sexual Fantasy Scale.” And then, just as you think you’ve come down from the euphoria there, Herren hits us up with “DEC. Machine Funk All ERA’s” which employs his signature moments of wordless vocals. The moments continue throughout as the labyrinthine beast molds and shifts in a way that is as reminiscent of Kemialliset Ystavat, or the just reviewed Black Dice, as it is of any contemporary hip hop instrumentalist. Prefuse 73 is on a different level though when it comes to hip hop. Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian is so much more than beats and samples. The meticulous nature of the layering and sequencing of this thing is out and out brilliance. I’ve long held One Word Extinguisher as my favourite from Mr. Herren, but I think that is changing. Definitely one of my favourites of 2009 thus far.

-Lil' Thistle

www.prefuse73.com

Battles - Mirrored

Battles
Mirrored
(2007, Warp Records)
8.5/10

"If any band has laid down the future of what rock should become this year it is Battles for sure." -Raven Sings The Blues

"Battles have done more to extend the idea of a flesh-and-blood band enhanced by computer technology than anyone since the late, lamented Disco Inferno." -Pitchfork

"The music Battles are making deserves to be heard, and respected.....Even if you’re not much of a cerebral-rock person, take a chance with this one—it pays off." -Pop Matters

Why is every critic raving about the new full legnth Battles album, Mirrored? Battles is labeled a cerebral, math rock, noodled band. What do those things mean? Let's wikipedia them: Cerebral: Describes an angle of thinking that utilizes the intellect rather than intuition or instinct, Math Rock: style of noise rock music that emerged in the late 1980's. It is characterised by complex, atypical rhythmic structures, stop/start dynamics and angular, dissonant riffs, and the most interesting term, Noodled: oh wait, I searched everywhere and no one seems to have an exact definition for what "noodled" music is! Don't you hate how music reviewers make up their own words to describe how things sound, ya me too- but, ya know what, I don't know how in the world to desribe Battles either. They are being labeled as one of the most progressive bands as of late, which is interesting since they are labeled "math rock" which isn't really considered a progressive genre to be in anymore. Every reviewer seems to be raving, but everyone else doesn't seem to be as enchanted. Well, I am going to have to take the side of the reviewers on this one. This album is pretty mind blowing. It sounds like insanity in musical form. This is an album that can't be pushed into the background. You need to put on your stereo headphones, lock yourself in your bedroom, and devour this album. I can't wait for their show at the Urban Lounge July 7th. They are supposedly amazing live. So, why is every critic pissing their pants over Mirrored? Because... it really is that good.

-Sassigrass