Album Reviews

Talk about throwing it back to the 1980s! These guys channel Manifestoera Roxy, Brit/Industrial (Joy Division) and even Haircut 100 on their latest double LP set (CD included for easy iTunes/iPod loading).

If you're of the right age,"Pioneer of the Falls," the dark, late-winter afternoon-like opener will give you the deja-vu creeps and the musty-earth chills with lead singer Paul Banks dismissively tossing off cathartic, cleansing-but-tortured lyrics above razor-guitars and strict-tempo drum machine cadences played on real drums with ferocity by Sam Fogarino.

Love trials are on display and cast in sacrificial and heroic terms in this dramatic set, including on "No I in Threesome,"the most interesting "tripleplay" tune since David Crosby's "Triad," but there's nothing gentle or hippie-like about the angular musical terrain.

Indie rock may be cozy and puppy-dog goofy these days, but these guys show no interest in that. In fact they left Matador and signed with Capitol to be on a major label, but sales of this album, while decent for an indie band can't be what Capitol had in mind, not that sales numbers have anything to do with quality.

This atmospheric album filled with buzz-saw, chop-shop guitar riffs and pounding drums casts love in terms that are equally heroic and tragic and way too jarring and serious for kids brought up in the post-ironic world of "who gives a shit"(about anything). Maybe this is a dose of just what's needed.

Sonically, the recording and production are well organized, though Pro-Tools gauzy and crunchy however it was recorded. The nicely packaged and pressed double 180g LP set is far more listenable than the free CD. It's warmer, fuller and not as hard and bright, though it also doesn't plumb the depths as well as the CD. Is it as accurate to the source as the CD? I'm not sure but I am sure I don't care.

The vinyl is far more listenable, and though the CD is brighter, the details are more clearly defined on the LP set, as is the imaging and staging. So while the CD delivers more impact, the LP draws you in for the long run and lets you listen.

I hope these guys never lighten up!