Cult Following
Merge
2016
Rating: 6 additional pleated fans out of 10
Based solely on most write-ups of this or any other Little Scream record, it's highly doubtful I would have paid much attention had it not been released by Merge. That label is batting about .750 or .800 for my tastes, so anything they sign off on is worth a once over.
The bad - I'm not crazy about the whole record. There is an insane amount of genre hopping from one song to the next, with Prince-like falsetto funk-pop being the most frequent comparison. There's also spacy folk pop, weirdo art rock, and god knows what else. It can almost be dizzying. I'm not often in the mood to hear all types of music all the time.
The good - there are a few songs though that are beyond fantastic. "The Kissing" features guest vocals from Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio, and has guitar solos reminiscent of the Wyld Stallyns from "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." Yes, I recently watched that movie again so it was fresh in my mind. "Someone Will Notice" gives me a strong Aimee Mann vibe, and both it and "Wreckage" really make me think of Wye Oak - and I mean that in the best possible way. Wye Oak is everything.
I wish I was excited about this whole record as I am about those few songs, but it's worth a listen just for those alone. And maybe I'll grow into the rest...
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