Infinite Arms is the group's first album since departing with record label Sub-Pop and finds the Seattle group trying to swim without their life jackets on. Every band has to grow up one day. Just see the album title as another phrase for "spreading your wings." Yet maturing is easier said than done. Just look at MGMT and their yawnfest Congratulations.
This album sheds the pomp and sparkle of their previous efforts and goes straight for the earnest approach. While singer Ben Bridwell has always been more than content to let his bleating vocals shoot for the stars, Infinite Arms is a rootsy, low key affair full of songs that aim for a slow pay off rather than the instant hook of yesteryear.
Hardcore fans will have to dig deep for another "Funeral". Sombre sing-a-long "Laredo" is the closest the band comes to past glories. A swish swash of reverb and lush harmonies make the song the album's stand out track.
"Evening Kitchen" is a stripped down ditty where Bridwell emotes over a lost love. "You wasted my time it's true it's true". He wants to go out with his friends but is afraid he'll see his ex-lady friend there as well. So there he is stuck in his kitchen sipping on a lonely bottle of wine.
And that's the theme for the whole record. Bridwell and company want to grow beyond their own limitations, yet are afraid by their own needless fears and reservations. There are two kinds of 'bad' aesthetically: you're run of the mill bad (Creed) , and your audacious and boldly bad (Chinese Democracy). And while Infinite Arms is no where near any form of bad, it's almost completely void of anything which made listening to Band of Horses the treat that it was.
The harmonies and sad stories are there, but the grandiose atmosphere and shimmering arrangements have been replaced with dusty tunes that add up to nothing more than an ant hill in the desert. Maybe a nice clean shave would do these indie kids good.
Grade: C+
Key Tracks: "Laredo", "Compliments", "Older"
This album sheds the pomp and sparkle of their previous efforts and goes straight for the earnest approach. While singer Ben Bridwell has always been more than content to let his bleating vocals shoot for the stars, Infinite Arms is a rootsy, low key affair full of songs that aim for a slow pay off rather than the instant hook of yesteryear.
Hardcore fans will have to dig deep for another "Funeral". Sombre sing-a-long "Laredo" is the closest the band comes to past glories. A swish swash of reverb and lush harmonies make the song the album's stand out track.
"Evening Kitchen" is a stripped down ditty where Bridwell emotes over a lost love. "You wasted my time it's true it's true". He wants to go out with his friends but is afraid he'll see his ex-lady friend there as well. So there he is stuck in his kitchen sipping on a lonely bottle of wine.
And that's the theme for the whole record. Bridwell and company want to grow beyond their own limitations, yet are afraid by their own needless fears and reservations. There are two kinds of 'bad' aesthetically: you're run of the mill bad (Creed) , and your audacious and boldly bad (Chinese Democracy). And while Infinite Arms is no where near any form of bad, it's almost completely void of anything which made listening to Band of Horses the treat that it was.
The harmonies and sad stories are there, but the grandiose atmosphere and shimmering arrangements have been replaced with dusty tunes that add up to nothing more than an ant hill in the desert. Maybe a nice clean shave would do these indie kids good.
Grade: C+
Key Tracks: "Laredo", "Compliments", "Older"
No comments:
Post a Comment