The original goal of Pretzel Logic was to follow music history as it was being written. While I certainly love listening to and reviewing new music, I find commentating on what everyone else is saying far more interesting. Whether an album is good or bad isn't something decided by one person. It's something formed by hundreds of voices all weighing in on the matter. When some release or another does get itself noticed over the cacophony of conflicting opinions, that means something. So, from now on, I'm not going to review albums in the traditional way. Rather, every Friday, I'm going to briefly discuss the week's releases that are getting the most attention. I'll provide my own opinions, of course, but I mostly want to draw people's attention to albums that other people are talking about. Listen to them, form your own opinions. Stay in touch with contemporary music.
So, without further ado, the highlights from the past week:
#1
ZonoscopeCut Copy
Modular Records
Zonoscope was the week's big critical winner. Cut Copy's follow-up to 2008's much-celebrated In Ghost Colours showcases a more thoughtful and nuanced version of the band's dance-rock hybrid. While In Ghost Colours sounded like an unusually sunny New Order, Zonoscope recalls LCD Soundsystem at their most compelling (sans James Murphy's barbed lyrics), with a bit of Kraftwerk and Moroder beats thrown in. This is a fantastic step forward for the Australian band. Listen to the extraordinary opening one-two punch of "Need You Now" and "Take Me Over." Critics loved this album and I'm certainly not here to disagree.
Simon's Grade:
#2
James BlakeJames Blake
A&M Records
Capitalizing on the strength of a handful of EPs released last year, James Blake's debut album is a spectral affair, full of shadowy electronics, staccato clicks and Blake's processed voice. Utilizing vocoders, multi-tracking and other studio tricks, the human voice is reconfigured into something harsh and robotic, yet simultaneously rich with emotion. James Blake feels like an album of smooth R&B ballads... as sung by HAL. "Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do..." Not many albums can be both eerie and romantic, but James Blake finds a way.
Simon's Grade:
#3
Tao of the Dead...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Superball Music
Although it didn't receive the acclaim of the first two, Tao of the Dead rounds out this week's crop of well-reviewed albums. Everyone's favorite absurdly named band has returned, with more sturm and drang and wonderfully overblown hugeness. After spending the better part of the 2000s wandering through the aimless wastelands of guitar noodling, Tao of the Dead is helping Trail of Dead reclaim a bit of the promise they first showed almost a decade ago. The guitars are loud and the choruses are anthemic, but some strong melodies and use of dynamics liven things up a bit. This still isn't a good enough album to redeem that absurd band name, but, c'mon, we all know that Trail of Dead could release Ziggy Stardust and that wouldn't be enough.
Simon's Grade:
I really like this format! Go Pretzels!
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