Archers of Loaf | Vee Vee [Deluxe Remaster]

CD Reviews

Field Music | Plumb

Memphis Industries (2012)

By JONATHAN DONALDSON | February 27, 2012

3.5 Stars

The buzz about Britain's Field Music has been growing for some time. But with their fourth record's level of detail and care packed into 36 ever-fresh minutes of orchestral prog-pop (or you could call it "processed pop" via some strange Soft Machine ELO XTC Flaming Lips trajectory), it's hard to see much room for improvement. Where Plumb finds Field Music able to augment the typical modern rock setup with a vast realm of keyboards (from pulsing pianos to sinister square waves), inventive harmonies, unexpected segues, and tempo/meter variations galore, it also shows brothers David and Peter Brewis able to deliver the requisite killer pop hit. That's something few other experimental acts can claim. Oddly though, the two best examples of their hit-making prowess— "Just Like Everyone Else" and "(I Keep Thinking About) A New Thing" — are lodged smack at the very end of the album. This creates an overly pro and sophisticated— almost "nu-yacht rock" — impression of where Field Music are at right now. Be patient, though, and stay with this one all the way through. It's a killer.

Various Artists | Casual Victim Pile: Austin 2010
The notion that regional musical flavors exist independently in American cities is quickly becoming an archaic truism, seeing as how the world really is a stage these days, at least in the digital sense.
Bearstronaut | Broken Handclaps
There's a distinct absence of wildlife or astronauts on Lowell electronica quartet Bearstronaut's latest release.
Avi Buffalo | Avi Buffalo
Look, I get it: the last thing we need right now is yet another band who can be described as “sun-baked,” “reverb-soaked,” or even just “psychedelic.” But Avi Buffalo (I know! An animal name to boot!) are worth your attention for a few reasons.
J the S | The Last Days
J the S has been promising The Last Days since he went by Jake the Snake.
The Punch Brothers | Who's Feeling Young Now?
For a group full of virtuosos, the Punch Brothers refuse to dole out prodigious string-murdering sessions.
Ital | Hive Mind
If there was a broken-record knock against electronic music in the last decade, it's that it all sounded the same.
Die Antwoord | Ten$ion
Moreso than any "controversially-lipped" chanteuse (to borrow from one of Lana Del Rey's many observers), South African rap/rave/meme/satire/knuckleheads Die Antwoord beg the question:"Is that all there is?"
Van Halen | A Different Kind of Truth
Who would've thought Eddie Van Halen would still be innovative in his late 50s?
Craig Finn | Clear Heart, Full Eyes
In the near-decade he's spent as frontman-lyricist of bar-rock saviors the Hold Steady, Craig Finn has hardly been labeled a happy camper.
Cotton Mather | Kontiki [Deluxe Edition]
When it was released in 1997, Cotton Mather's sophomore album racked up glowing critical huzzahs across the pond (not to mention big-ups from Oasis), yet dudded here in the States.
Cursive | I Am Gemini
Cursive blew their chance to get out of this town a long time ago when they let cellist Gretta Cohn go.
Band of Skulls | Sweet Sour
Band of Skulls aren't innovators, and they probably won't ever be.
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ARTICLES BY JONATHAN DONALDSON

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