Customer Reviews

Forms

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

 

 

This is a glorious record that never overreaches. The songs are all accomplished, memorable, indeed beautiful, with intricate, angular harmonies and hooks in unexpected places. The music is remarkably modest--the record clocks in at somewhere around half an hour but don't let that discourage you. To say that the songs don't overstay their welcome is to say too little: I wished they were longer and yet had they been, it might have changed the powerful concision of the record. It is easily one of the best, if not THE, best record I've bought in many years of listening to independent music. The production is as you'd from Steve Albini: unadorned, honest, and very musical.

The Forms' first album "Icarus" is for my money one of the best albums of the 00s that didn't get nearly the recognition it deserved. I listened to it continuously for about 3 months when it came out, and still bring it out from time to time. I didn't think it was remotely possible that they could make a better album, but having bought their new one and listened to it for a good month at this point, I can honestly say they've really made a better record this time around. The album is a little mellower than Icarus, but the songs are much tighter and the melodies are very catchy, especially "Knowledge In Hand" (which was in my head for 3 weeks) and "Red Gun". And once again Steve Albini has made it all sound like a million bucks. There are a few weirder songs like "Borges", "Blue Whale", and "White Dot" which offer a nice contrast to the poppier songs and give the album even more depth. Anyway, this album is a must-get and is probably the best I've heard in 2007.