Customer Reviews

Know By Heart

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The American Analog Set makes some of the most lovely low-key indie rock, a mixture of warm strummed guitar, steady beats, vibes, analog synths, and Andrew Kenny's whisper of a voice. The unassuming songs are perfect tools for unwinding, but despite the subdued tones, the record never bores. The ironically-titled opener "Punk As F*ck" is a great place to start, while "The Postman," "The Kindness Of Strangers," "Million Young," and "Aaron And Maria" meld the quieter moments of Yo La Tengo with jazzy undertones lifted from Tortoise and other post-rock outfits. Know By Heart is not so much revolutionary as it is just simply strong and affecting.

3 albums into a career defined by gorgeous, minor chord drones and no-tempo jams that are reminiscent of the feelies and yo la tengo more than stereolab (to whom they are often compared), aas return with a daring new album of concise, beautiful songs. know by heart is one of the best albums of 2001. long time fans will want to spend a little extra time with this album toget used to the increased guitar and bass and the decreased organ but repeated listens will provide wonderful rewards.

I was looking for something new that I could really fall in love with. The sound of this record is amazing, and it shows some of the finest production I have seen for this band. If you like progressive rock and a new sound in your ears get this album. I am sure fans of Yo La Tengo, Wilco, Minus 5,and My Morning Jacket will love this album just for its feel. Even though this album tends to get lower ratings than the other albums, it is a better introduction into their music and in my opinion one of their best.

This is AmAnSet's most easily accessible album, by far. It features a couple of instantly catchy short pop songs as well as some instrumentals and longer pieces -- definitely a culmination of their growth as musicians through all their albums and EPs up to this point.

The American Analog Set is definitely a band to be experienced live -- as beautiful as this album is, seeing them perform these songs live (and completely CLICK as a live band, flowing from one song to the next smoothly and effortlessly) will bring the music to a whole different level. [Also note: any band that tours with a vibraphone has my undying support!]

For the record, one of my friends deemed this the "makeout album of the year", which is probably the best description you'll ever hear. Highly, highly recommended.

i can't believe the AmAnSet have been around since 1996, but i didn't hear their music until i got 'know by heart.' where the heck have i been? this album is by far one of the best of 2001. it flows from beginning to end, with great melodies, lyrics and rhythm. fans of Yo La Tengo, The Sea and Cake, Modese Mouse, and Tristeza would dig this. i am now on a quest to get all of AmAnSet's albums.

American Analog Set's latest release, "Know By Heart" is one of the best records I have heard this year. The band has moved from droney soundscapes with loads of farfisa to a more straightforward sound, losing nothing and gaining everything. Smooth vocals, wonderful melodies, loads of guitars and layered rythms make "Know By Heart" impossible to get out of my CD player. This is a great record that any fan of Stereolab, Pinback or Bedhead must own. Fantastic.

I'm not giving this album five stars because it's epic in the same way in which Pink Floyd's "The Wall" or Smashing Pumpkin's "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" is. If I were to use that same scale here I may only rate this 3 1/2 stars or so. To me this album is great because it's one of the best within the genre that it's in. I mean if you want to unwind after work and chillout to some smooth kickback rock, how can you beat this album? Out of every song that American Analog Set has done, I think there's only two or three which I really didn't like. Every album they've put out has been very nice, but this one is quite possibly the best. Personally I prefer this album and everything before it, as opposed to this album and everything after it. I think they slacked off just a bit in the two albums after this one. Anyways so don't expect this to be an epic album, but at least you can realistically expect to be calm and happy while listening to your music today.

A dreamy album that makes me think a bit of the down-tempo intersection of Tortoise, Yo La Tengo and early days Death Cab. Late nights/early mornings, naps. Guitar, bass, drums (played w/ brushes, not sticks), vibraphone, hushed vocals. Drony, hypnotic, but varied enough to maintain interest. Rippling lake water.

If you, like me, have sorely missed Bedhead since their breakup, then there's good news. In addition to the Kadane brothers' latest project, the New Year, the American Analog Set's Know by Heart is here to console us. In common with Bedhead, the American Analog Set has an unerring ear for melody and mood, and uses it to sublime effect on Know by Heart. The album's arrangements are economical but not stingy: no line or hook, no matter how good, is repeated more than is needed, and when the time comes to layer sounds to build intensity, the band never crosses the important line between emotional and histrionic. Although the music does call to mind Bedhead (at least for me), it's not imitative. The band's sound is its own. Know by Heart is a damn near perfect album, and one that I have in heavy rotation right now.

I feel kinda nervous writing this now, I saw that Alec Empire didn't like this album, it makes me kind of wonder about what I think of it. I do like it. A lot, maybe more than I should. It's simple really. There are songs and there are songs, but Amanset's songs just feel so natural sometimes. Way more than your average run of the mill Green Day or Blink blands. They had some heart and soul about it. There's very real feelings on display, this one has to be their best in my opinion.