Lower Dens
Escape From Evil
Ribbon
2015
Rating: 8 friendly forces out of 10
I've listened to a lot of Lower Dens recorded output and even seen them live a time or two, but the band has really hit new heights with their latest offering "Escape from Evil." This record is fantastically polished, a judgement that can be perceived as both good and bad but in this case it really works...the retro eighties New Order meets C86 vibe is strong here, and oh so catchy and listenable. Baltimore might be the best city in the world for cultivating this sound these days, from Jenn Wasner's work with Wye Oak and Flock of Dimes to big dogs Future Islands; perhaps only Sweden's Mary Onettes do a better job at making cold eighties pop songs sound retro and modern at the same time. "To Die in LA" was my quick favorite from the album...and I'm sure it's not just a coincidence that the name is so similar to the movie/soundtrack "To Live and Die in LA," an original from the era this album seems to be aimed towards. This is going to get a lot of spins this summer, and will surely find it's way onto my "best of" list at the end of the year.
Lower Dens
Nootropics
Ribbon
2012
Rating: 8 tin cans out of 10
Baltimore - so hot right now! Add Lower Dens to the list of hot-shit band's coming out of the the home of "The Wire." Actually, maybe you already added them after their debut "Twin-Hand Movement," a fine record but not nearly as impressive as this one. You can feel the band's growth here, and while the elements that make up this new batch of songs might be the same the construction feels different - more confident maybe, more comfortable in their own skin, or some such claptrap. To boil it down to it's simplest terms, this band is what you'd get if Blonde Redhead listened to a ton of Kraftwerk and Can and then wrote a new record under that influence. Since they are also from Baltimore you'll also hear comparisons to Beach House, but for my money Lower Dens are far superior musicians and songwriters. The opening three tracks "Alphabet Song," "Brains," and "Stem" (with the last two basically functioning as one track) are as strong an intro as an album can possibly have. From there you're just sucked in.
Lower Dens
Deer Knives 7"
Sub Pop
2011 Rating: 6 Bodymore Murderlands out of 10
This was the Lower Dens addition to all of the exclusive Record Store Day releases, and it's not a bad addition. Not as quirky as other music they've put out, both songs sound like the band might slowly be morphing into Beach House, or a non-electronic version of Stereolab. They're good songs though...maybe not crucial, but if you happen across them they're worth a listen. I still haven't decided how big of a fan of this band I am, but they seem to be building a decent foundation.
Lower Dens
Batman 7"
Gnomonsong
2011
Rating: 6.5 robin eggs out of 10
I saw Lower Dens play live a few months back and stylistically they were all over the map. This seven inch is no different. "Batman", the front half of the record, is a summery lo-fi pop song that sounds nothing like anything I heard them play live. The flip side, "Dear Betty Baby" is a mellow Beach House-type dirge that sounds even less like their other material than the A-side. I think these guys are trying to fuck with my head by not letting me box them into a "sounds like" category. This makes me a little mad because my mathematical side likes to break everyone down to a simple equation. Whatever, the songs are both pretty good - I actually prefer the B-side the most. Worth seeking out.
