Customer Reviews

& Yet & Yet

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Do Make Say Think are an interesting band. Their band title, consisting solely of action verbs, alludes to well...action. The irony is that they never seem to be in a hurry to get anywhere with their music. This is ambient music at its best. You can turn this album on and completely forget that its there, letting it paint the room with its sound while doing something else, or you can sit and pay attention to it, and it holds up to even the most rigorous standards.

This is, in short, good music. It is music to relax to, with a drawn out sense of tension and release, not enough to make it epic, but there in the background. It's relaxing without being forceful about it. There is something wonderful about the band's sense of timing. They seem to know exactly when to shift movements in their songs, achieving an album that never lags or stalls.

The simple fact is that this music makes it difficult to be in a bad mood, which is a great thing to come home to after a crappy day of work or school. I have actually found myself driving home after a bad day excited about finally listening to this album with my shades drawn. It simply is, without sounding like its trying to be, fantastic.

The guitar work is present, technically excellent, yet not overwhelming. The same can be said for the percussion. This is most obvious on "Reitschule," the standout track of the album. The guitars meander around progressions while drumming on a rhythm that seems anachronistic keeps them from grounding themselves to any conventional song structure.

The production, usually my point of contention with music these days, is nearly flawless, which means I never even thought about it. The job of a mixer is to bring out the band, and whoever mixed this (my itunes version doesn't have his name) did a marvelous job.

This is a multilayered album that sounds fresh with each listen, because it is ambient enough to let itself be colored by your mood, while subtly changing it. Overall, a great listen and highly recommended.

Although both their self-titled debut and "Goodbye Enemy Airship..." were quite good, "& Yet & Yet" takes Do Make Say Think to a completely different level in terms of their songwriting. Whereas past albums relied more on textures (and they still create some of the lovliest around) and sometimes stretched things on for too long, this album is a smooth, 45-minutes of musical effervescence. Some of their most beautiful songs yet, and one of my favorite albums of the year so far.

Being a part of Canadian post-rock label Constellation (Godspeed You Black Emperor being the label's figurehead) means big shoes to fill for Do Make Say Think. Even harder is the task of trying to keep away from the shadow of jazz-influenced post-rock giants Tortoise. Do Make Say Think succeeds fairly well at doing what they're doing, all odds against them.

I bought this record on a whim. I had never heard anything from this album, but I loved their previous effort, Goodbye Enemy Airship The Landlord is Dead, so at a modest 13 bucks, I picked it up.

The album as a whole is satisfying, but there are some tracks that don't hold up well on their own. Tracks like "Classic Noodlanding" and "Soul and Onward" are accessible and almost catchy, but songs like "End of Music" and "Reitschule", while fitting to the album as a whole, don't play well by themselves.

It was a bit subtle for my tastes at first, but after four or five listens, it began to grow on me. This is a soft, mellow and understated album, perfect for a night by yourself. The only gripe I have with "& Yet & Yet" is the fact that sometimes the heavy influence from Tortoise's 1998 centerpiece "TNT" seems painfully obvious. And unfortunately, TNT is a little more polished than this.

But in the end though, those things won't prevent me from slapping this record on for many a rainy night.

This album is very good. I love how they create an atmosphere with the music. I also love the style, it's easy going, but it's not simple. It's beautiful but not overwhelming. This album can get very loud, and very quiet, and the transitioning between is flawless. As compared to other "post-rock" bands, such as Godspeed and Mogwai, they are very unique in their sounds, just as the other respecting bands are. You won't find Do Make Say Think to be a rip off of any other band, they maintain their individuality very well. This album isn't perfect though, nothing is perfect, but it gets damn near. Some parts of the album I did find somewhat boring, but they are very very few and far between. I can easily listen to the cd the whole way through and be completely satisfied. If you are a fan of any other post rock bands, then I'm pretty confident you will want to add this album to your collection. If you like Do Make Say Think, maybe you have another one of their albums, then there is no doubt in my mind that you should really consider buying this one. If you are looking to get into post rock, this album (or any other DMST albums) would work great as a first. Of course Do Make Say Think isn't for everyone, but I am pretty sure if you are reading this review you probably aren't one of those people.

It's SO relaxing. What the other reviewers say is true. 'Chinatown' is my favorite. Everyone who hears it stops talking and is mesmerized. This is almost always in my car's stereo (and I drive a lot), and is very frequently in my room's. The opening of 'Reistschule' is absolutely beautiful. The last song has been stuck in my head literally all day several times.

and still have a smile on your face. It's absolutely gorgeous and each piece builds up to the climax leaving you completely satisfied all the while craving for more. These musicians harmonize and play off each other as easily as you and I breath. This is one you just buy, hands down, then for every listen be grateful you bought it

upon first listening I remember I was outside laying on the grass at about 10pm waiting for a friend to come pick me up. I never wanted the moment to end, the music is so beautifully structured and put together. The melodies, the instruments all come together perfectly. I gave this a 4, because I decided that i'm not just gonna throw out 5's like butter, but if it makes you feel any better this easily deserves a 5. More greatness from a great label. Time to go play Joust on my NES, please don't bother me.

I actually dont have this albumn yet but i listened to the whole thing in the record store coz i blasted all my money on [another singer].
AND I WISH I HAD SPENT MY MONEY ON THIS.
The songs seem instantly likeable.Less soundscapes just really good tunes. The old do make say think is still there but i guess theyve just become more accessible.Which is so not a bad thing, because accessible usually means good.
Less raw than landlord, but it still has the lounge feel of self titled. The melodies just suck you in and send you into a trance letting you create a film in your head with the best soundtrack...

Having listened to DMST's full catalog, I feel this album is an easy entry point not only into their work, but into the post-rock genre in general. "& Yet & Yet" shies away from the heavy droning, dark and/or experimental sounds that can make post-rock unpalatable to newbies. This album isn't short on texture and the tracks shift nicely from beautiful to prickly and back with just the right amount of mercy toward a new listener who may not be ready for some of the darker extremes that emerge on a few of their other albums. It's a solid work with a lot of replay value whether you immerse yourself in it or simply enjoy it as ambient music.

3 1/2

This transitional album of sorts for the great instrumental group finds them at a crossroads between the eccentric jams of old and more recent compositional ambitions. As a result, &Y&Y can sound a little over-thought at times, but still has plenty of engaging musical insights on display.