June Review Blitz

Three newish albums to review:

Bjork - Volta
Rating: 2 out of 10

Simply the worst solo album Bjork has ever offered us. Most of it is frankly boring and/or puffed up with its own self-importance. She should also lay off trying to be "political" - both "Declare Independence" and "Hope" are near-unlistenable. There are three decent songs on the album. I'm willing to buy into first single "Earth Intruders" as an interesting contribution to her catalog, but it's hardly the species-uniting anthem she seems to want it to be. "Wanderlust" is probably the standout track on Volta, but I have to admit it's little better than an Homogenic outtake. Finally, "Innocence" is punchy and perhaps the largest departure from anything she's ever done before. It doesn't merit an entry of its own, but I caught Bjork's show at Shoreline Ampitheatre a couple weeks ago, and found it bombastic, poorly organized, basically a paean to her own ego. I think years of being regarded as one of the most important musical artists alive has finally gone to Bjork's head. In interviews she's asserted that Volta was meant to be a "fun" album rather than an "important" one... but if we take her word for this, then I seriously hope she gets out of the house more and regains the sense of FUN that made the Sugarcubes and her early solo work so consistently awesome.

The Clientele - God Save the Clientele
Rating: 5 out of 10

Up to this point I've really liked the Clientele, and have been willing to overlook a bit of samey-ness in their music (not to mention its utterly derivative nature). But God Save rachets their sound DOWN another notch or two... it's now little better than Muzak. I unfortunately missed their show in San Francisco over Memorial Day weekend - perhaps hearing these new songs played live would have helped me connect. As it is, this album is like one long sigh (or yawn). It's still pretty, but mostly spiritless. There are a few sprightly standout tracks, and they're strangely all near the end of the album: "Carnival on 7th Street," first single "Bookshop Casanova" (I swear I mean it as a compliment when I say this is the best Belle & Sebastian song we're likely to hear this year), and the downright bristly (by this album's standards, at least) "The Garden at Night."

Battles - Mirrored
Rating: 9 out of 10

I've saved the best - possibly even the best album of the year - for last. Apparently 2007 wasn't already weird enough. Mirrored is unlike anything you've ever heard before. Reducing it down to its parts (punishing live drums supplemented by electronic rhythm tracks; insistent guitar riffs; lots of quirky noises and melodies packed in around the edges; and hyper-processed/distorted vocals that usually sound like a group of Munchkins on acid) doesn't begin to do it justice. Better to talk about moods, and the way each song manages to evoke combinations that would have seemed irreconcilable. Outstanding lead single "Atlas" is both whimsical and martial. (My friend Joe told me it reminded him of the weird "rave" scene in the second Matrix movie). "DDiamondd" is a two-and-a-half-minute statement of purpose not unlike Shining's "ASA NISI MASA" - it pounds your ass into submission but still leaves you smiling. "Tonto" - probably the most straightforward song on the album - is math rock with a WAY better rhythm section. "Leyendecker" (another one clocking under three minutes) is sinister but quirky; fantastic penultimate track "TIJ" leavens its brutality with playful keyboard/guitar interplay. The vocals on Mirrored have taken a lot of heat (head to YouTube, watch the awesome video for "Atlas", and check out the User comments) - but I think they provide an amazing counterpoint to the technical proficiency and hardened intent on display here. This could have been merely an impressive album; the vocals make it a fascinating and FUN album. I'm seeing them live in a couple weeks and CAN'T WAIT! This one is a must-buy.