Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
After complaints on a previous thread about the timeliness of the reviews on this site, I think it’s worth re-stating something of a disclaimer before writing what is another woefully late album review: I write reviews only as and when I feel I have sorted out in my head what I feel about an album. Somtimes I have to hold off for a while because the review is written before the album is actually released, but more often than not reviews on Song, by Toad are just plain late. The reason for that is quite simple: it can take me a while to wear an album in properly, but I’d rather do that than rattle out the posts too quickly just to meet some imaginary deadline.
I actually downloaded this record naughtily a little while ago, and have been mulling it over ever since, but it still took a nudge from their label, Domino, to get me to actually write this review. This is why things are always a little late around here.
This album, a little like Wild Beasts’ last one, has required all that time and more to settle in and allow me to form some semblance of a sensible opinion, although for different reasons. Usually, when a group makes a big splash with their debut album and releases a follow up with a lot of the more notable eccentricities ironed out I am the first to start complaining. With Wild Beasts, however, I found their first record just a little too much to assimilate, so I’m actually grateful for the fact that they’ve taken it a little easier this time around.
So how would I describe it? Well I’m not sure, really. The guitar work has all the atmosphere of a super-edgy, hipper-than-thou indie band, but the music doesn’t necessarily carry that kind of style with it most of the time. The album chimes along like an odd cross between Vampire Weekend and early Interpol – at once menacing and jaunty. They do give you something of a dancey feeling, but there’s definitely something funny going on which I can’t quite pin down.
Maybe it’s just the voice – a swirling, melodramatic croon which I really like – which makes this music seem so unique. I am sure there are a million out there who would disagree with me, but Wild Beasts seem to have a really distinctive character and, far from blunting their individuality, this less extravagant approach seems to have given this album more discipline and hence more consistency than their last. It may tail off a little towards the end, but I like it. Rather a lot.
Wild Beasts – All the King’s Men
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
This gets a wavering hand from me. I’m not convinced, yet, with all of it.
No, sone of it certainly doesn’t quite do the trick for me either, but I was surprised by how much of it I liked when I stopped playing it for a bit and went back to it.
So, in code if you must, who’s been having a sneaky gripe at your time keeping?
AnotherDave mentioned how late I was with my Parallelo review. I don’t think he was having a real dig though, just a bit of mild piss-taking.
I’d personally rather read a “late”, well written review than a crap blurb tossed together just to be first. But then my own writing is of the slow, lengthy variety.
ha, i wondered if that would put a bee in your bonnet! yes, i’m weeks and weeks late on some things that i just can’t stop listening to in order to get thoughts together enough to post on. there’s always a sense of desperation in my listening habits lately that i’m not liking at all. so i’ve taken to dedicating some time to just go back and immerse myself in The Smiths or JAMC or some other old band for the pure joy of it and not be always “working” if that doesn’t sound too conceited.
so i’m glad you take your time, gives us an excuse to take ours too, xoxo
I can’t remember when it was, but Matthew had a huge rant about some magazine publishing a glowing review of some big name’s latest album before they’d listened to it. That’s the sort of up-to-the-second music journalism the internet expects. None of this “considered opinion” bollocks.
Really like what I’ve heard off this album. Two Dancers reminds me of something quite strongly, but I can’t quite think what.
The saddest thing about that (it was a review of The Black Crowes in something like GQ) is that the review, even blind, was almost certainly 100% right.
Hence the reason for filing it in the first place, I would imagine.
It’s not new, that sight unseen method, as I’m sure you know. A film critic friend of mine (whether on his TV or radio shows or simply writing for the local rag) used to file / present movie reviews of films he didn’t particularly want to see on the basis of Total Film copy &/or net chatter. 9 times out of 10 he was nail on head with his analysis (such as it was) & summation of your expected movie going experience.
Lazy? Unprofessional? Probably most likely yes. I suspect, though, it’s no worse than having researchers do it for you & you simply putting your name to it at point of publication/broadcast.
Well a lot of really famous bands only give a single, truncated preview listen to someone reviewing the album. What more are you going to get out of that, realistically speaking.
Then they only have themselves to blame.
Well that’s sort of what I meant. For all a lot of journos are lazy as fuck, a lot of the bigger bands do somewhat exacerbate it with stupid PR rules and so on.
Not Wild Beasts or Phil & the Osophers of course, I was thinking more of the likes of Madonna.
Who looks particularly cadaverous these days.
I wouldn’t feed her to the pigs.