My decidedly ambivalent review of High Violet runs today at Dusted. It’s complicated, as are my feelings about this move to the mainstream by one of my very favorite (possibly ex-very favorite) bands, so I’m not going to summarize…you can read the whole thing right here.
Or just skip to the giveaway track, the best on the album in my view, which is called “Bloodbuzz, Ohio”.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I read your review this morning and thought it was really good. You can't be accused of slagging them off just for the sake of it as you make some good observations about the new sound. I really liked the fourth paragraph and the overall scheme of contextualizing your points in their discography. I'd say that it benefits from your attention even if the record was disappointing.
Oh, thanks Andrew. I actually was enjoying about a third of the songs on the album a fair amount. It's not a bad record, just sort of safe and Starbucks-y.
I have to say, I like this one a lot more (a LOT more) than you do; admittedly although Alligator is probably my favourite I did first come to them via Boxer; maybe that makes a difference?
In any case, now when I review this for PM I have some extra food for thought; that was a good review, whether or not I feel that way myself.
Hi, Ian. Yes, I'm thinking I'll probably be way off the consensus on this. I disliked this album the most the first time I heard it, and although there are things that I continue to dislike about it, there were some songs that grew on me. It sounded, in the NYT article, as if they weren't using Padma Newsom as much for string arrangements as before, which, if true, is not a good thing, IMHO.
Well, I've been underwhelmed by all three of their most recent albums on first listen, so having that happen with High Violet didn't faze me; it's grown quite nicely, I think. I kind of miss the rockers, but I kind of don't. Excited to see them live, in any case.
Yeah, that's weird because I distinctly remember being excited about both Boxer and Alligator the first time through. Like, you know, damn, what a great thing that I'm still listening to music, so I can hear this. Just didn't like this one as much, though some of the cuts are good. To each his own, though. Looking forward to your take on it.
Post a Comment