Jamie Hale

Yo La Tengo has built a reputation. The veteran band from Hoboken, New Jersey is well known for experimentation and always being cradled by critics. Each album is a journey into another world and different genre. Another day, another dollar, and so it is that the band gives us something new for 2009. Of course, as if it’s not enough to vary sound by albums, Yo La Tengo gives us such a variety within Popular Songs. All wrapped under the umbrella of “indie music,” the album features several, often more subtle variances that makes it an interesting and fresh listen.

While a lot of bands like starting records light and slowly digging into the rest of the music, YLT decided to begin heavy and work their way up. The lazy psych track, “Here To Fall” is almost syrupy, with orchestral strings constantly trying in vain to cut through the haze. It’s a bold choice for the number one spot. The next few tracks play with tempo, but generally keep things on the mellower side of the spectrum. The first wave of Popular Songs is nice, and if it was continued on the same track to the end it would be a fine album. No complaints. But when the band gets to “Periodically Double Or Triple,” things take a turn for the best.

The song is not an epic, sweeping piece of artistic expression with beautiful heart-breaking lyrics and mind-blowing musical experimentation. And that’s what’s so great about it! The jumping, squealing organ brings us back to 1963 and the innocent days of “Sugar Shack.” It’s songs like this that reveals the playful nature of Yo La Tengo. It’s a nature that has warmed the hearts of those who welcome musical experimentation, but keeps the band away from a mainstream that enjoys consistency and familiarity. It also shows the talent of the group to write such a variety of songs, all done incredibly well.

But as Popular Songs continues, the tracks get longer and begin the fuse together. The last three songs take up a full 37 minutes of the album and are more difficult to listen to. I guess they’re the bands “epics” that they feel are necessary, but the songs seem out of place and their arrival is a bit jarring. On a record full of slower 9-minute pieces, it’s expected, but side-by-side with more typical pop songs they come off as pretentious. But after 15 years and 11 albums, Yo La Tengo is entitled to do whatever Yo La Tengo wants, and if that’s to tack these songs at the end of an otherwise wonderful record, who am I to say no?

Buy Popular Songs on iTunes

Along with CM’s usual contributor, Lee, Jamie is an author and co-founder of the popular music blog, Knox Road. You can find more of his work at http://www.knoxroad.com/. This post is syndicated and slightly modified from the original content here.

Lee Levin

Though not quite as much of an anticipated release as say, Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest or Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Regina Spektor’s new effort, Far, still arrives with great excitement and fervor. And while Far is probably Spektor’s most ambitious album to date, it’s also the most unvaried – offering up the potential for hot debate in the music community as a whole.

Spektor captures grandiose moments with her full-fledged piano pop, yet leaves little room for the Spektor of old – she of Soviet Kitsch, who worked her way into the hearts of quirks and nerds aplenty, while still appealing to others who found her voice to be just as precious. We could see this progression coming though – Begin To Hope already was a step in a new, more polished direction, and Far only builds upon that.

That’s not to say, though, that Far is an album I can’t enjoy, and I hope those folks who were into the Regina of old can accept this full-sounding album. Because on display is some magnificent pop, with hugely gorgeous vocals, as on “Dance Anthem of the 80’s,” and devastating piano, as on “Eet” (probably my favorite track). While she may have lost some of her “raw” edge, the arrangements are as confident as ever, with intricacies abound (”Machine,” “Dance Anthem…” – breathtaking crescendos) and oftentimes a cappella percussion.

But, while Far rounds itself into a produced and mature whole, it also is very much of “the same.” It surely doesn’t slack on talent (may even be her most talented effort yet – don’t let that get lost on you!), though I expect some hardcore fans to be a little taken aback by this latest effort. I just hope they don’t lose sight of the beauty within each track.

Bottom line: several stand-out singles on an album that doesn’t lend itself to much variety. Regina’s still awesome in my mind, and she’s probably going to gain an even greater following on this record for those who couldn’t connect with her previous albums.

Purchase Far

Lee is an author and co-founder of the popular music blog, Knox Road. You can find more of his work at http://www.knoxroad.com/

Jamie Hale

Dirty Projectors have been wowing critics and fans with strong material for years, and have recently impressed with their Dark Was The Night David Byrne collaboration. But now, they’ve released their latest LP, Bitte Orca, and it’s nothing short of wonderful.

What we have here is something sweet, melodic and experimental. Drums go from consistent to erratic almost randomly and the guitars seem to do the same. It’s as if a seemingly average song is interrupted, in a good way, by inspired musical creativity. Songwriting is clearly a strong suit of the band, and the performance shows a great understanding and chemistry.

But what really sets Bitte Orca apart are the vocals. The sweet, soft melodic tones contrast sharply and beautifully against frontman Dave Longstreth’s own strange, crying voice. Pit against an army of instruments, from violin to synth to the ever-present acoustic guitar, the band creates a beautiful new world.

This is all-too evident on the not-necessarily-so-obvious single “Stillness Is The Move,” a song that captures the essence of what Longstreth is going for here. “Useful Chamber” gives the same idea, but in a much different way. The album winds down on “Remade Horizon”, which highlights relatively more traditional songwriting and bids a sweet farewell.

Already well-respected in the world of music, Longstreth has one-upped himself on the new album. The songs recycle a lot of the same ideas and techniques, leading to some annoying repetition, but I’m willing to forgive and forget. I’ve already talked on Knox Road about how 2009 has brought us new, artistic music and Bitte Orca is no exception. It is just another in the line 0f wonderful, artistically brave albums to grace our ears this year.

Buy Bitte Orca on iTunes/Amazon

Along with CM’s usual contributor, Lee, Jamie is an author and co-founder of the popular music blog Knox Road.

image courtesy of Dirty Projectors’ MySpace