Emotional Listening #19

Cryptograms - Deerhunter (Kranky, 2007)
I can't imagine an album that is more frustratingly sequenced than Deerhunter's breakout 2007 LP, Cryptograms. No wonder it took me forever to finally cave and listen to it. With the exception of one noisy, not very good rock song and one bad ass guitar pop jam (the title track), five of the first seven tracks are long, ambient instrumental pieces. They're pretty and all, but man are they boring. This is a befuddling way to start off one's album. That being said, the band returns to the psych-ish chimey guitar music for four of the last five, and it is a beautiful thing. "Spring Hall Convert," "Strange Lights," "Hazel St." and "Heatherwood" all rank among the Deerhunter greats, with "Hazel St." probably being the best song here. Though the second half of Cryptograms is an obvious indication of the direction the band would take, there are plenty of surprises overall, good and bad. Mostly good, though. I like where Bradford Cox's vocals sit in the mix, but the main attraction here is how luscious those guitars sound. Glad I finally went there with this record, even if I don't love it as much as I had hoped.
Top jams: "Cryptograms," "Spring Hall Convert," "Strange Lights," "Hazel St.," "Heatherwood"


Today - Galaxie 500 (Aurora, 1988)
Galaxie 500 get pegged as "dream pop," but I don't really think that's applicable on their debut LP, Today. This is pretty much a moody jangle pop album with Velvet Underground tendencies. It sort of sounds like a slower version of The Feelies, perhaps with better melodies. "Tugboat" is one of THE ultimate jams, but "Parking Lot" and "Oblivious" are just about as great. Today is an excellent debut, and I look forward to spending time with the rest of Galaxie 500's discography.
Top jams: "Pictures," "Parking Lot," "Don't Let Our Youth Go to Waste," "Oblivious," "It's Getting Late," "Tugboat"

Mass Romantic - The New Pornographers (Mint, 2000)

I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to listening to The New Pornographers' excellent debut. Considering how great 2003's Electric Version and especially 2005's Twin Cinema are, I shouldn't have been surprised by how good Mass Romantic is. That is quite a three-album run for any band. I'm sure you know this, but The New Pornos play loud, fun power pop with extremely well crafted song structures and some of the catchiest of melodies. A.C. Newman, Neko Case, Dan Bejar and co. are obviously the most top notch of musicians, and it's impressive how well they all work together. "Jackie," "Letter From an Occupant," and "To Wild Homes" are the most noteworthy tracks on this nearly flawless record.

Top jams: "Mass Romantic," "The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism," "Jackie," "Letter From an Occupant," "To Wild Homes," "The Body Says No," "Execution Day," "Centre for Holy Wars"


Sittin' Pretty - The Pastels (Homestead, 1989)
This Pastels record took me a minute to fully get into, but I think I'm sold, now. These are some bad ass pop songs with some fuzzy, jangly guitars and arrogant, snotty vocals.. The Pastels get lumped in with the late 80s and early 90s twee movement, but Sittin' Pretty sounds considerably tougher than its kindred spirits. The brighter feel of the title track and faster tempo of "Swerve" make for an awesome way to end the album, but sweet mid-tempo opener "Nothing to be Done" takes the cake for album's greatest jam.
Top jams: "Nothing to be Done," "Holy Moly," "Ugly Town," "Zooom," "Sittin' Pretty," "Swerve"