Pretty much everyone with a music blog has written about this album, so if you like harmonic folky rock and aren’t convinced by that, I don’t know what to do for you.
Why yes, I am getting tired of these. How did you know?
I don’t think I can point to any one thing that made the Walkmen’s previous couple records shitty, especially because I never even really listened to their last LP. I do remember debating seeing them at the Pitchfork festival a few years ago and thinking I’ll watch from the shade. It’s really hot out. But You and Me isn’t quite a comeback album, per se–it’s another aging album, and it’s equally suited to late nights when the party’s over or never really started, or just sitting around thinking about your life with a beer. I guess that doesn’t address the album’s quality, so: it’s freaking great.
Steven Ellison is the spiritual successor to Prefuse 73, Dabrye and J Dilla, and I hope he gets popular (long shot, I know) if only because his nickname “FlyLo” is sort of ridiculous. Wait, that’s not the only reason. This album is great, whether you’re paying close attention to it or not, and I can only hope he doesn’t start getting lazy (P73), repetitive (Dabrye) or die (Dilla). So far, so good.
This free mix had some of the absolute high points of 2008, flipping a goofy conceit and throwing it absolutely sky-high thanks to tracks like “The Kramer,” featuring Michael Richards’ racist “He’s a nigger!” rant. I have no idea why Wale doesn’t have a deal fatter than Kanye’s. Also, in case you noticed these entries are getting shorter, I’m getting sleepy. Seven to go.
Lo-fi garage rock+girl-group harmonies+lots of hooks+a little shoegaze. Very simple formula that should produce a lot more awesome bands, but for some reason it hasn’t been happening. In the meantime, here’s a band who got it just about perfect. It would’ve been cool if it were a little longer, though.