Think Bowie. Plus over manufactured Atlantic. Yep. You got it. Atlantic is holding on and trying to get money for recorded music. the rules have changes, so with bands like Tally Hall, Atlantic will hopefully seem indie enough for the music lovers that still buy music to buy their music. This move from Atlantic just shows the state of the music industry. They are going under, so they are trying to pull the right chord to inflate the life-saver raft.
But let’s talk about Tally Hall. I call this genre “work casual.” It’s family-friendly, but different than top 40 stuff, so you can get all the fun of being a casual “indie” listener without being indie at all! For the band work casual means falling under indie pop on iTunes or record shops (do they exist anymore), but signed to a major and appear to be doing it for the money (work.
So, cubical workers rejoice, here’s the band you’ve been waiting for! It’s the soundtrack to play quietly at your desk on casual Fridays, instead of easy-listening radio. It’s just fun, and cool, enough!
One final comment. Their album cover. Whatever is up with the background, I don’t care. I’m more focused on the members of Tally Hall. They remind me of either children show hosts, such as the Wiggles (with their assorted colors) or the Power Rangers, where even out of costume they would still wear their secret identity color in their street clothes, or rather their work casual clothes.
Chin Chin – Chin Chin (Def Jux)
This Is Modern jazz and funk in a fuzz-tastic way. i haven’t heard anything like this groovy since the 70’s (and I didn’t exist then). Even after drawing heavy influences from the older time period, the band does not sound retro but more pop. when people speak of fushion, they should be citing Chin Chin as their exhibit A.
Their cultural and genre mixture is rich in sound and really full of flavor. Chin Chin has an influence from everywhere and every-when. “Miami” takes some Latin horns with a 70’s R&B sound. Rating: B-
So they pre-released their album cover. And then the album came out. (Well, technically it will be “out” in stores May 20th.) If the cover was any indication, I probably shouldn’t be surprised at the sound associated with that crazy looking cover.
I don’t know what happened to them. Was it the switch to Anti? Or the constantly changing and dropping of band members? Either way they seem to have lost their wit, fun and overall pop essence. If you still are looking for any connection to the Unicorns, forget it. The what- used-to-be-Unicorns seemed to have disintegrated somewhere in the album artwork.
Let’s talk about the artwork. What is it? What’s with it? Is the “epic” artwork an attempt to match their new “epic” rock sound?
“Creeper” brings back the memories of the Island’s glory days from their album Return to the Sea. “Kids Don’t Know Shit” also got my attention. It reminded me slightly more of Arcade Fire than the Islands I knew. Just when you think all is lost, “Life In Jail” breaks into a country-violin-based break down, and just confuses me more.
I know they are changing their sound, I know bands do that from time to time. But, I don’t consider this a smooth or successful transition. They may being taking a step back with this release.
Islands – Rough Gem (from their first album: Return To The Sea)
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=RpQwZ_gdE1w]
Rating: C
This Is Ivy League – This Is Ivy League (Twentyseven Records)
I guess i have a sweet tooth for sweet music. i like indie pop. So when This Is Ivy League’s self-titled album showed up in my mail box, I couldn’t resist to give it a full and fair listening.
Although the promoter’s sticker compared them to Vampire Weekend, they also mentioned Parliament/Funkadelic (who one of the members played guitar with occasionally), which canceled out the VW reference.
There is a nice mix of instruments. The vocals are nice. The folk mixed with pop is nice. The lyrics are nice. Overall, It’s nice. No matter the track, it always breaks into a catchy pop hook and chorus. How nice.
Favorite tracks include the poppy “The Richest Kids In Town.” and the horn-introduced “Love Is Impossible.”
Track Listing:
- The Richest Kids In Town
- Love Is Impossible
- London Bridges
- Viola
- Celebration
- An Introduction
- A Summer Chill
- Modern World
- Til The Day
- Visions Of Tokyo
- Don’t Waste Your Love On Me
Clinic has always done their own thing, and they continue on doing their thing on their 5th release, Do It. They continue on with their business without it being tired. They continue to push their own envelopes.
Clinic – Do It! (Domino)
They re-enter into the scene after two years with their gritty guitars and psychedelic mentality. “Memories” is fantastic with the lyrical breakdown followed by the craziness of the drums. “Tomorrow” also plays with the heavy beat, using guitars plucked to their limits.
The Ade Blackburn sounds like he’s clenching his jaw as he sings. His style matches well with the “struggling” instruments. All four-band members sound like they are performing at wits end.
“Shopping Bag” is straight up rock n’ roll. Meanwhile, “Emotions” is a “softer” (and I use that word lightly) 50’s pop song done in Clinic’s pushing-the-sound-barrier style.
The album is quite odd but its so intriguing. And let’s face it so are these guys. They perform usually in scrubs and facial masks. The energy in this album is so contagious. Take a listen.
Track Listing:
1. Memories
2. Tomorrow
3. The Witch (made to measure)
4. Free Not Free
5. Shopping Bag
6. Corpus Christi
7. Emotions
8. High Coin
9. Mary and Eddie
10. Winged Wheel
11. Coda
