Customer Reviews

BiRd-BrAiNs

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

She's amazing in concert and on disc. The songs are innovative and passionate wonders of uke & vocal loop wonder--though she exists nicely outside of loops as well. I think of bands such as Cornershop & Pram and even Stereolab--though she's her own very much different thing. There seem to be African influences as well. The playful brilliance on display here floor me. Songs of unrequited love and palpable longing and lions! Her voice creates moods that endure long after the music has stopped. There's a sort of maternal warmth here as well as she mixes in loops of children screaming or offering their opinions on the freshness of blueberries.

Though not a stocking stuffer, and like MIA from 2005, you won't hear anything like this in 2009. I wonder what a wealth of production will do her? There are Captain Beefheart moments as she often chooses to abandon melody for the muse, or a beat summoned from under a pillow. Other moments sound like an unearthed Harry Smith 45. It might test your limits, and you won't choose it for the dance floor, but open your mind and your intellect will follow. It'll last longer than most holiday gifts.

This is one of the most interesting albums I've heard in a long time. The songs are a wonderful mix of African and Latin influenced jazzy/rock often with undertones of slinky Portishead-sounding beats. And the lyrics are sometimes haunting, sometimes funny, and mostly very catchy. Overall, I love how this album takes from different forms of music to form something very new and very creative.

I had the misfortune to see Merrill Garbus live first. She opened for The Dirty Projectors and her vocals killed. I bought this album in the hopes of capturing her voice for my listening pleasure. What I got in return was a seemingly minimalist, under produced album. Merrill comes of muted and distant, and the full power of her voice is not displayed on this album. I don't know if the production values represent a personal aesthetic or just a lack of funding, but I would recommend you throw your money down for Merrill live than this recording. This is a sad representation of her vocal range.

Whokill, the Tuneyards' sophomore record has been getting a lot of attention, but I think this stellar debut is the better record. This album is unlike anything you'll ever hear. It's like the sunny, cheerful revival of the long forgotten trip hop genre. Every song is like a junkyard nursery rhyme performed as a valentine. They're fun, vibrant, creative, and extremely catchy. The beats and rhythms are primal and infectious and the atmosphere is like someone teaching children how to tame a bluebird. This is an amazing record. Highlights include: Sunlight, Lions, Hatari, Jumping Jack, and Fiya

Though it certainly does no justice to the breathtaking experience of the live performance, this cd is a remarkable work of art. For those who have enjoyed tUnE yArDs on stage, it's a lovely souvenir; for those who haven't, it remains highly compelling: a tiny portion of an amazement is still something quite extraordinary.