Customer Reviews

Glass

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

 

 

I've been a fan of this band for several years. This release seems to be somewhat of a departure from their normal stuff, and is a bit more experimental and electronic than a lot of their earlier material. More emphasis on the musicianship and studio mixing expertise than on Prekpof's voice. My favorite song on this album is "An Echo In," which has a great driving beat. It evokes a melancholy mood in me, and the synths and guitars harken back to vintage New Order or the Cure. I could listen to this song all day.

The other songs on the album are all uniformly interesting. Both versions of "To the Author" are well performed, and "Traditional Wax Coin" reminds me of some stuff from another Chicago band, Tortoise. Surprisingly, my least favorite song on the CD is "Tea and Cake (Mix by Sterolab)". A bit too eccentric for my tastes.

If you play this CD on your computer, make sure that you check out the cover of the classic Bowie song, "Sound and Vision," via a Quicktime movie. It's really fun and would make a great video for MTV - that is, if MTV even showed videos anymore!

The Sea And Cake are one of the bands that deserve a lot more attention than they have. In "Glass," fans can not only hear the Sea and Cake's own music, but their songs done by other fantastic indie-rock bands. Stereolab and Broadcast, two bands I love, shine in particular.

"Glass" opens with two versions of the shifting rock song "To The Author," and then to the slow-moving experimental "Traditional Wax Coin" and upbeat "An Echo In." The last half of "Glass" is even more unusual: Covers of their songs done by other bands or singers. Included is a solid cover of "Tea and Cake" by Stereolab, a mesmerizing "Interior" cover by Broadcast, and a rather lackluster "Hotel Tell" cover by Carl Craig.

Experimental and sparking with life, the four songs by Sea and Cake on this album. And the covers are also a treat, since the musical styles of Broadcast and Stereolab are easily adapted to Sea and Cake. They're recognizable as being something different, but at the same time not too alien from the original work. Craig's cover, however, is a little more awkward, but still okay.

Fans of the Sea and Cake will enjoy "Glass," but fans of Stereolab, Broadcast and Craig may want it as well, so they can check out Sea and Cake's songs through another filter. Well worth it.

Experimental leftovers from the OB sessions should only be worthwhile if you have, and love, all other material. Glass isn't bad per se, it contains plenty of moments worthy of the band's elite indie status, but contains more in-between uncertainties which do little more than sample a current palate.