on with the show.
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
It's absolutely impossible to review Arcade Fire's latest without talking about their first. Funeral was simply an album about life and death. An album filled with eulogies turned anthems. The album began with childhood memories and ended with the death of childhood through the loss of a family member. It was a powerful and emotional album, and my pick for 2004's album of the year 2004. So it was pretty safe to say I was pretty to hear the follow-up. It's amazing just how different they are. Sure, the anthems are still there, but the scope is much wider this time around.
In contrast, Neon Bible focuses outward. Instead of one topic the Canadian septet use their new found fame to lash out at just about everything. War, religion, government, and American culture are under attack. This results in an album that lacks the sincerity of the debut. That doesn't mean Neon Bible lacks punch. It's full of spirit and truth, despite some lackluster lyrics. If you haven’t heard the Arcade Fire imagine The Cure doing Talking Heads songs, just with more organs and strings. The soundscape is massive and usually unnecessary, but it works with the over dramatic vocals. Production is once again top notch, impressive considering the band continues to produce their own records. This won't be a record for everyone, but those that have the patience and an open mind will find another indie gem.
8.0/10.0
other stuff this week...
!!! - Myth - If you are itching for a new dance punk record, and are tired of waiting for the new LCD soundsystem. Check out this little number from !!!. It's filled with music to make your indie-butt shake.
Bikeride - The Kiss - I haven't heard enough of this to make a final judgment, but it's got a lot of promise. In a year full of great pop records, this one seems to standout.
So....
I woke up Sunday morning, and checked my email, being the obedient slave that I am, and found this...
I flipped and panicked, how could I possibly miss this? Well after a few hours of searching message boards, I was able to find the golden download. Here are my impressions of Wilco's new album, Sky Blue Sky..
It was Sunday morning, about 10 am....I didn't bother with the crappy computer speakers, the instant that file finished it was already in my Nero queue. Four minutes later I had it in my hands. I ran down stairs, my wife was boiling water and making eggs (you know the style where you cut a hole in the bread and place the egg in the center?). I threw on Sky Blue Sky, and heard the first line of the album. "Maybeee the sun will shinnne today". A huge grin stretched across my face.
I go through this elaborate story for a reason, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to an album. As my wife and I sipped our tea and ate some delicious breakfast, Tweedy was right there with us. This gets to my first point about the new Wilco album. It's truly a Sunday Morning record. It's filled with some of the most tender lyrics and music Wilco or Jeff Tweedy have ever produced.
To say it's mellow is an understatement, but that doesn't mean it's easy listening. Tracks like "Impossible Germany", "Side with the Seeds", and "You are my Face" bring plenty of climbing guitar rifts to the simple-complexity of Jeff's voice. They compliment each other perfectly. It's this sharp-softness that really makes the album feel natural. This is Wilco's most personal album to date. So much that It can, at times, feel like a Jeff Tweedy solo record. The albums expert instrumentation show that Wilco, "the band", support their singer fondly and are still a immense part of the overall sound. Hints of Dylan, McCartney, and The Band can be heard throughout.
The subject material is much darker then any of their previous work, and this is apparent in several songs. Especially the final track, "on and on and on" showcases Jeff's (?) marital troubles with a haunting piano chord supported by an equally disturbing, yet beautiful, organ pipes. It's the perfect closer to a mournful masterpiece.
Wilco's last two records have been filled with experimentation, so seeing Wilco go back to a more grassroots style may turn some recent fans off. However, fans of Wilco's early days should have no problem snuggling up to this record. It may not be filled with electronica or distortion, but it has something that every Wilco album has shared, heart.
Sky Blue Sky may not be the best album of the year, but it's far and away my favorite, and will be very hard to top.
9.5/10 - Wilco fanatic
8.5/10 - everyone else.
Duke’s Take:
It’s back to basics for Wilco with Sky Blue Sky, and that’s a good thing. Sauer’s opinion that this is a Sunday Morning record is dead on. Sky Blue Sky is certainly Wilco’s most personal (and depressing) album. The electronics have been stripped back, but the layers of meandering pianos, organs and guitars really showcase the insane amount of musical and song writing talent in Wilco. I do have a problem with the album though; as hard as I try, I can’t get into the 6th track, Shake it off. It sits right in the middle of the record and it really breaks up the album. The song is hard on the ears due to both the off key singing and the huge amount of repetition of the same chords. Just when you think the song is going to kick it up, it falls back into another repetition. Lyrically, the song is fine, but the music and arrangement miss. It’s just so out of place on a tight and precise album. Maybe it’ll grow on me a bit, but it seems like a track I’ll be skipping more often than not. Sky Blue Sky is still an amazing album, one that will find its way into my CD player for years to come. “Impossible Germany” and “On and On and On” are two of the best on the album. 9/10.