Sound and Fury 2/15/2007

Sound and Fury 2/15/2007

by Indy Staff

The
Apples in Stereo New Magnetic Wonder Yep Rock
Records; February 2007

Of all the bands to record on the legendary underground Elephant
6 label, the Apples in Stereo seem most likely to break into
mainstream success. Whether their latest, New Magnetic
Wonder, helps them accomplish this remains to be seen, but
poppy perfection tracks like “Play Tough” and “Same Old Drag”
certainly help. The latter layers Electric Light Orchestra-style
pianos and vocals atop the Apples’ characteristic cheer, rendering
a highly catchy tune that will not soon leave your head. In a
seeming effort to resist being labeled “that happy indie band,” the
Apples have also included some more complex, melodic tracks like
“Non-Pythagorean Composition, Pt. 1,” which provides a melodic
interstitial amid all the twee. — Drew Mackie

Of
Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Polyvinyl Records; January 2007

Combining cartoonish whimsy, electro-laden disco beats, and a
healthy heaping of personal anguish, Of Montreal resurfaces with
its latest – and arguably finest – album to date. Like its
predecessors, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? prides
itself on incorporating as many disparate noises, melodies, and
obscure arrangements as possible to create a sound invariably all
its own. The major shift here comes lyrically as creative tour de
force Kevin Barnes delves a little deeper and creates a record that
is strikingly autobiographical. — Aly Comingore

Bloc
Party Weekend in the City Wichita; February
2007

Bloc Party’s sophomore release takes the band far above and
beyond its post-punk contemporaries. Like 2005’s Silent Alarm,
Weekend is brimming with complexities; arrangements shift from
pensive to aggressive throughout the record, showcasing the band’s
instrumental ambitiousness, as well as its appreciation for
crystal-clear production values. Still, it is Kele Okereke’s lyrics
that make Weekend work on a conceptual level. Littered
with images of fleeting sexual encounters, violence, and mortality,
the album is undoubtedly darker than anything Bloc Party has
attempted in the past. That Weekend works as both a dance
record and a bleak soundtrack to city living is simply a testament
to the band’s creative abilities. — AC

AG
Get Dirty Radio Look Records; October 2006

Bronx-born AG, or Andre the Giant, decided to throw a new twist
on some old tricks for his latest release off Look Records. He
headed out west to California to work with a variety of deejays and
producers and ended up with an innovative album that actually seems
too cool for radio. To break it down, he’s got one part smart
rhymes, two parts classic technique, and a lot of ingenious
sampling. With such a creative task force, each song is unique, yet
the album holds together as a unit and all together makes a disc
that’s surprisingly fantastic. — Nicole de Ayora