Phil & the Osophers – Parallelo
This is about as smooth and polished as I have heard Phil & the Osophers sound, I think. Regular readers will presumably see this statement as a prelude to a negative review, but not in this case. It’s still a patchy record, but there are moments when it’s bloody brilliant: opener Uses of a Man is fantastic, to begin with. The next track, Extra Weight, is lurching in a sense, but another cracking pop song, as are the two which follow.
Basically, with this kind of music, no matter how much I enjoy the wailed vocals and scruffy-as-you-like production, it really does come down to whether or not this is a successful bunch of pop songs. Unfortunately it doesn’t retain much of its momentum past the first half of the album. I’ve always found this band to be a little hit and miss, but in this case after the halfway mark the sheer infectiousness of the songs seems to slide a little, for me, until by the end I am usually struggling to really pay attention at all any more.
The old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll sound is prevalent throughout, to the extent that they sound like an American take on the Wave Pictures at times, albeit with a very different lyrical style.
I’ve liked other work by Phil & the Osophers better, I have to confess, but Staring Down the Sun and Pineapple pick things up in the latter half, to add to a sterling first half, so this is still a pretty good album in my eyes, if a little inconsistent.
Phil & the Osophers – Uses of a Man
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Phil & the Osophers – Mayan Calendar
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i really like the two songs posted here.
Hmm, inconsistent… yeah, maybe that was it. I thought long and hard over this album. Poor DC wandered into the middle of my ranting on it one day. I ended up being kinda insulted by it, haha! But that was because the sound of this thing is so pressingly retro, which irritates me. But they do it so well! Which irritated me even more.
“Propeller Jet” is fucking good. So fucking good that I play it over and over still, even after declaring myself done with Parallelo for. ever.
It’s only music, Tart. No need to get your knickers in a twist.
ooh you’re back! how was the show last night? I’ve been dying to hear.
and you know damn well that music is what does it… much more predictable than men
I really liked these (and the other songs I got off love shack, baby a couple of weeks ago – thanks Tart). Mayan Calendar sounds a little like a Vampire Weekend demo. But I liked Vampire Weekend, so there.
Anyone else think Our Glorious Leader is getting a bit slack with regards to timeous reviews?
As much as I have tried, as much as I took on Tart’s rather wonderful review of it, as much as I have approached it from different angles & sobriety, I can’t get into it at all. The production has defeated me I’m afraid & I just can’t hear the apparent tunes.
& this after I LOVE the back catalogue.
Not even the first couple, DC? They’re the most infectious ones for me.
Dave, I like VW too, and yep, that sounds like a rough version of them to my ears as well.
Not even after them, I’m afraid. I do wanted to like this, I expected to like it, given how much I love the other stuff. Unfortunately the really unnecessarily overly desert island out of range transistor radio production quality has killed it for me.
but thank you for your kind compliment on my review, sir xoxo
he’s stubborn, matthew, he really is
I’m not trying to persuade him, I’m just genuinely surprised that a fan of the band wouldn’t love the first few tracks on this record.
Well he’s a contrarian at best, eh?
I saw Tapes ‘n Tapes this past weekend and a few of their songs were reminiscent of these, mostly in the percussion and bass lines. I found them by looking for other low-fi bands that fit the type of music that Phil and the Osophers make. Check them out if you’ve not, their new record is going to be pretty awesome, I think.
The first Tapes n Tapes was phenomenal, agreed, although I wasn’t so keen on the last one.
Listened again &, sorry, nope. It’s the godawful production, which you may think is more polished but I think is overwrought & needless.
There may be tunes in there but I can’t get past the wall of murky static. I just don’t get this dreadful love affair with the “how recorded in a wet cave using headphones as mics can we get this sounding?” when it is to the obvious detriment to the quality of the songwriting.
Very disappointed, I have to say.
This collection of songs gets better the more you listen to them. Try to suspend your expectations of perfect studio polish cause that’s not where they were aiming in the first place. The lyrics are relevant and thought provoking. The melodies are very original. It is a well crafted work with catchy riffs and memorable hooks. The surf guitar sounds are great and the harmonica solo on #6 is reminiscent of Paul Butterfield. So get with it, man.