Customer Reviews

Ether Teeth

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

 

 

This is not a hip-hop album. Yeah, I know, the previous Fog album (the self-titled one) wasn't exactly hip-hop either, but Ether Teeth is REALLY not hip-hop. Sure, there are elements of hip-hop at work (hideously catchy beats, turn table, samples) but Fog manages to use these elements in new and exciting ways.
It doesn't take long to realize that Andrew Broder (the insightful studio whiz behind Fog) understands how to make beautiful music. The songs of Ether Teeth are both dense and fragile, full of form yet somehow shapeless, warm and isolated and alone. Mellodies drift in and out of view like wave swells. Rarely here are instruments finely tuned, instead they bask in their imperfection. Broder's voice is hardly "American Idol material", but never will Clay Aiken, in any of his thousands of renditions of the Star Spangled Banner reach an emotional impact anywhere close to Broder when he whispers "One day a dump truck will dump two tons of kittens on me." And man, does he ever know where to lay the beat! Just try standing motionless during "No Boys Allowed". I double dare ya. There are infectious rythms abound.
you can compare Fog to DJ Shadow, Radiohead, and the Microphones, but really the only thing any of these artists have in common is that they don't sound anything like anybody else - therefore it's a contradiction to compare em in the first place.
I haven't praised Ether Teeth enough, but I fear doing so would take too much time. Lemme just say Ether Teeth gives the Wren's Meadowlands some serious competition for album of the year. It's beautiful, it's intimate, it's all an album should be and everything no album has ever been. If you are into introspective music or just want to experience some amazing contemporary music, Ether Teeth is it. Thanks Andrew, for adding a little beauty to life.

PS - Don't forget to check out Fog's self-titled debut. It's less organic and overall less ambitious in scope, but darn it if "Pneumonia" isn't the best song ever made.

This album is very experimental and really pointless. It is a lot of ambient tracks, with some voice-overs and vocal expressions, but nothing that really captivates the listener. If you are a fan of really experimental music, you may like this. If you are looking for song structure and melody, then you probably want to check elsewhere. I took nothing away from this album.

Fog's second album, ETHER TEETH, shows more restraint from his self-titled debut. The opening track, "Plum Dumb," is a hazy dream in a sunny countryside. Many of the tracks that follow hem closely to the indie rock spirit, with some folk sensibilities thrown in there ("Up a Anvil Tree" is an excellent example). The beats aren't as bombastic, and he shows greater control over the extraneous noises that detracted from his debut. "Boys Not Allowed" recombines these elements into a somewhat cohesive whole. The vocals, however, have a strained, lo-fi quality that match the subdued mood of the album, even if they can be grating in large amounts. "Wallpaper Sink or Swim," at its 11-minute running time, is a sound collage that doesn't integrate its elements as much as it simply juxtaposes them. A strange and subtle album.

This album is brilliant in production terms, not only is it brilliant but its very creative. The way sounds are processed, tinkered with, and thrown into a stew of warm downbeat grooves is just so wonderfully executed. A bit dramatic at times, and a bit goofy at times... truly an album that knows where to put humor in with the lyrics. peep this bad dog, also check out his first release on NINJA TUNE, self titled. thank you.

Ive heard alot of different opinions about this album, from "really quite fine" to words that are best not typed here. Being a massive fan of his first album "Fog", Andrew Broder succeads himself beyound mesure.
We're started off with "Plum Dumb" what almost sounds like a acoustic guitar, piano and turntable. These instruments are carfully weaved in and out of each other in a delicate fabric of sound. We're treated with this style in various other tracks like "Cheerupcheerily", "Apologizing to mystery" and "Cardinal Heart" amoung others.
After the firt song we're flung into the stompy rummage entitled "What A Day Day". A song Broder wrote about his previous neibourhood. This track is like being taken under a hammer of turntable maddness and strummy acoustic goodness which is brilliently ended with a sentence about 'terribletown' and 'lovelyville'.
One of my favorite things abot this album is the range of instruments, which includes chewing gum, dusters, aninmal noises and the incredible use of turntables [being put throght differnt microphones, effects and being recorded in differnt rooms.] Just go to "Girl From A Chewing Gum commcersial", "Under A Anvil Tree" or "See It? See It?" for examples of this mans artistic inventivity.
Lyricly this albums wonderfull. Using turntable manipulated words alongside his singing ["Wallpaper Sink Or Swim" and the 'heys' on "What A Day Day"]. Fog manages to sing about personal, upfrount, serious subjects with humour and gentelness "Awwwww, look ain't he just the cutest guilty filthy kid cliche" "If you need me call my lawer,i'am going where the lights stop green for ya".
And finally the life span of this album is massive. Having the ablility to allow your audience to here somthing differnt each time they hear a track is somthing all great musicians should. All in all a inspiaring album. Loung may it continue.

Wow, this album is amazing.
Just be warned, it isnt hip hop...
More along the lines of radiohead, wilco, beck, or any other singer songwriter who experiments with electronics