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Beck
The Information
Interscope
Much of Beck’s music is difficult to describe. His newest CD,
released in October, is no exception.
The difficulty comes from the artist himself. Over the years Beck has
drawn on so many different types of rock, hip hop, jazz, electronic,
punk, as well as other non-western styles of music, to create a musical
language all his own.
Although the songs off The Information are extremely accessible,
with its loosely based rock structure and with some songs more catchy
than others, the CD is full of melodic and lyrical breakdowns that lift
listeners off to a futuristic yet retro world.
The CD, which also includes a bizarre music video DVD, reflects a mature
fusion of all of the best of Beck’s music, like the alternative
rock riffs of Mellow Gold, the serene sounds of Sea Changes,
the eclectic mix of genres found in Mutations, just as examples.
Yet, the distinct and driving rhythms of The Information, industrial
and urban at its core, and its poetic but random lyrics, create a solid
album that is a perfect fit for driving in traffic, contemplating history
in a coffee shop or maybe even going for a jog...on the moon. —Elana
Gordon (posted 12/15/06)
…and
they will know us by the trail of dead
So Divided
Interscope
Strange, lush, atmospheric, eerie and orchestral, the music of AYWKUBTTOD
(ok, sometimes anagrams don’t make things easier) is as original
as it is uncommercial, with results that can be maddeningly hard to
pin down; and, frankly, they deserve a freakin’ medal for it.
The music industry as a whole (producers, marketers, radio stations
and, yes, music writers, too) expect, at best, nothing more than a few
chopped up words for most musical genres, like alt-pop, neo-goth, (and
a real fave… Norwegian death-metal!) etc., all to help keep the
fans as stupid and uncritical as possible. Did you think boy bands and
lounge singers are constantly in the top ten in album sales because
they’re good? (pause for hysterical laughter) Whew, ok, almost
lost it on that one. No, the simple fact is that few bands ever manage
to gain commercial attention without conforming, and if there’s
anything these boys don’t do, it’s conform, baby.
While on sight it would be easily to label these five Austin fellas
hipsters (hair that they spent an hour on to make it look like they
just woke up, half-intellectual bullshit quotes to interviewers, etc.),
the music rises above even that industry-standard asshole behavior.
Led by Conrad Keely’s rhythmically sinister vocals, the nine songs
on So Divided roll through each other like a Pink Floyd album,
trading melodies and harmonies that run the gambit, sliding from pop
to orchestral to Irish ditties, and even at one point sounding just
like a freakin’ Beatles song.
In other words, these guys are just that damn good.
Yes, yes, everyone knows they are famous for their instrument-shattering
live shows, often walking away bloodied and bruised — what musical
hack wouldn’t want to jump on that tasty image and strangle it
to death? Sure, the song titles tend to edge to the absurd, and the
lyrics verge on pomposity…who cares? The only aspect of music
NOT controlled somewhere by a rich white man in an expensive office
is originality, be it good, bad or indifferent, and their is no question
that this is some of the most original and refreshing music you’ll
never hear on the radio.
That’s a pretty good trail to follow. —Brandon Whitehead
(posted 12/08/06)
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