Comparing and contrasting Wye Oak's sophomore album The Knot to other artists and genres is pretty challenging. Just like that crossword puzzle in front of you. But fear not, this album is a definite must-buy. I know that it's not out yet but Merge Records had a stream for this and I was enthralled by what I heard from their track "Siamese".
The Knot is a consistent, cohesive listen with musical combinations never before thought possible. I don't listen to country, but I have an idea of what the majority of it sounds like (thanks CMT) and I envision it as sappy love songs with twangy guitars. Wye Oak does it. I definitely know what post-punk is. It's a rendition of punk after the late 70's with a more dissonant sound. Wye Oak does it.
The tracks on The Knot start with slow, mellow rhythms and soft singing, and later transform into a triumph of distortion. Jenn Wasner's singing never leaves its cage. It keeps its soft, upfront vocal range stable and constant throughout its 40-45 minutes playing. Now, understand that Wye Oak is a boy-girl duo. The album has a whole array of various instruments; strings, horns, etc. When playing live, don't expect them to sound as outgoing as the album. Wye Oak most likely pays more attention to album quality rather than live sound.
To sum this up, this is a great record. I encourage you to at the least give it a listen and if you enjoy it, buy it. It'll be worth your *Wyle*. Get it?
No comments:
Post a Comment