Monday, December 31, 2007

Thee More Shallows - Book of Bad Breaks (Anticon, 2007)

Thee More Shallows
Book of Bad Breaks
Anticon
2007

Rating:  7.5 sideways visors out of 10
 
Anticon, though primarily known as a hip hop label, are clearly not afraid to branch off into new territories - such as this album “Book of Bad Breaks” by Thee More Shallows.  A staple of the San Francisco rock scene for years, this third album may not be as great as their sophomore effort “More Deep Cuts” (one of the best records of the decade for my money), but it shows a willingness to explore new directions, and does so successfully.  Apparently head songwriter for the band Dee Shallows befriended fellow Anticon label mates Odd Nosdam and Why? over the past few years, working with them in various capacities  - contributions on each others records, collaborative remixes, you name it.  The influence of these partnerships are obvious on this album, combining the classic Grandaddy-esque sound of Thee More Shallows with all manner of electronic beats and clicks and pops and feedback and whatever else you think of when you think of production on most Anticon albums.  It really works much better than I would have ever though on paper, like deep frying a twinkie – it sounds like a bad idea until you taste the results. 

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