Witulant

Yeasayer – Odd Blood

If 2010 ended today, Odd Blood would be my album of the year, and for the exact reasons I’ve picked my last three album-of-the-years.  This isn’t a record that blows everything away, it’s no Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or Kid A, it’s more subtle and slowly discloses its magic over time.  Upon first couple listens, it’s good, and after a few more, it’s spectacular.  Each song plays well off the others, and once a familiarity with the entire album is made, they gel together as a very impressive whole.

For those who remember Yeasayer’s last album as an indie collage of world sounds and folk songs, be warned of the differences.  This assimilates new wave and noise-pop as thoroughly as their first album did with ethnic rhythms and arrangements.  The differences in their efforts is that this time around, the ambition (and consequential risks) feel bigger and the payoff is more fruitful; it’s, quite simply, just more exciting overall.

It’s already been on steady rotation for me since I got a copy of it in early January and I don’t really see that changing soon.

****

Hot Chip – One Life Stand

It’s pretty easy to say you won’t find a more prolific electronic music act working today than Hot Chip.  They’ve made consistently good dance records that double as artsy, meaningful song cycles that dart gracefully from memories of childhood, fears and hope for the future, past lovers and (in this case) present ones.  The title track of the album weaves clever opposing ideas of a seedy quickie to lifetime love, and musically parallels this with minor-chorded synths underneath while slow, major-keyed steel drums fight to steer the song onto more positive ground.  The layers here are amazing, and is one of the most satisfying songs I’ve ever heard from Hot Chip.  This sets up the second half of the album with a much more intimate sound, leaving behind the heavier electronic sounds.  From start to finish, one of their best LPs they’ve made, and a must-hear for 2010.

****

Other 2/9 releases: Fear Factory, Phantogram, The Watson Twins, tobyMac, Galactic, Sade, Massive Attack