Discovery - LP

[Blake Solomon]

Discovery – LP
Record Label: XL Recordings
Release Date: July 7, 2009

Reading about the sad state of everything hasn’t made me depressed. Instead, I’m more determined than ever to find that which makes me happy. I don’t want to be like this site’s blog-downers. I don’t want to spend my time trashing shit I would never listen to anyway, just so I can reminisce with the same 4 records from 2002 (a.k.a the year Avril Lavigne dropped “Complicated” all over our asses). So let’s push that shit to the side and swallow a horse pill of Discovery. Or if you don’t like Discovery, find something else. Move forward. Open the blinds. In fact, just hate me instead. I’ll take your anger and ignore it like everyone else. Problem solved. Happiness found.

But this is a music review and you’re already firing up those electronic typewriters to tell me how pointless this fucking diatribe seems. You’ll say I failed to mention anything worthwhile, you know, music. Fine, if I must: Discovery’s LP is an Urban Outfitters tribute to club-banging electronic music. It can be poppy in its approach (“Osaka Loop Line”) or lackadaisically R&B-driven (“It’s Not My Fault (It’s My Fault).” But none of that blah-blah-blah matters. The only thing you care about is the names/bands behind Discovery: Rostam Batmangliij (Vampire Weekend’s stylist or something) and Wes Miles (Ra Ra Riot’s lead singer). VW’s fanciful African rhythms manifest in some expected but pleasing ways here (like in the sweeping electronic wind chimes of “Slang Tang”), and although there’s less Ra Ra Riot to be heard, the disc features a dead-on reinterpretation of The Rhumb Line’s “Can You Tell” (slyly renamed "Can You Discover?"). LP is perhaps most intriguing because of its layers. The surface appears superficial, but delving into the release reveals smart influences and a successful attempt at retaining each member’s disparate identity.

Don’t let Garett Press’s love (http://www.absolutepunk.net/journal.php?do=showentry&e=200402) for Discovery turn you off, either. Yes, he may be running around in his underwear somewhere while “So Insane” disco bounces alongside, but it’s just nice to see someone excited again. He’s not spending time on that which makes him “hella sad.” He’s living in the moment and searching for the best this world has to offer. And fuck, nothing would make me happier than to run around in my underwear with Mr. Press while the remixed jitteriness of “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” blasts from some skeezy car stereo. We’d have a picnic in the park and ride rollercoasters ‘til we barfed! If you’re not into that sort of thing, I’m sorry. A few days with LP will likely change your view. Or it’ll make for a good hate-Blog.


Recommended If You Like: electronic music or remixes or either of the two bands listed above


www.myspace.com/discoverdiscovery

[Blaise&Panthia.]

The Jackson 5 cover that's not very good but is still very enjoyable deserves a mention.
Nice review...I love this album.

[Yellowcard2006]

I really like the cover art. The music isn't really my thing though. Good review

[thespearkid]

great record. i feel like your review could have focused a little more on the album though (sorry for doing exactly what you said readers would do haha).

[hockeyguitar99]

I like the album, it probably won't last too long, but for now I'm really enjoying it.

[cereal4life]

I don't like cursing in a review. Honestly.

[Blake Solomon]

I don't like cursing in a review. Honestly.
yeah it's weird, isn't it

[gladnads]

oh glad to see the review was about right. Thread a couple weeks go had everyone praising it and it just doesn't feel right.

[geebee889]

I love this record. It's not normally what I listen to, but I can't help but love it.

[radio napalm]

I'd harrrrrdly consider this "club-banging electronic music" or anything close to that. I'd stick to writing about genres you're familiar with if I were you.

[messiguy01]

Very likable album. Crap review. Done.

[imtherealdave]

I didn't care for the record myself, but I agree that this is a crap review.

[weworemasks]

fuck all the haters blake. i'm glad you're on ap. it's nice to read a different approach to reviewing albums. there's so many i tend to skip over on this website, but you'll be glad to know i always read your bidness.

/blake bandwagon

seriously though. this is a great summer album, and nothing more. will definitely be on my year end lists, but nowhere in the top 20...or 30.

[Blake Solomon]

I'd harrrrrdly consider this "club-banging electronic music" or anything close to that. I'd stick to writing about genres you're familiar with if I were you.
why skip over the urban outfitters tribute part?

[Blake Solomon]

fuck all the haters blake. i'm glad you're on ap. it's nice to read a different approach to reviewing albums. there's so many i tend to skip over on this website, but you'll be glad to know i always read your bidness.

/blake bandwagon

seriously though. this is a great summer album, and nothing more. will definitely be on my year end lists, but nowhere in the top 20...or 30.
meh, don't waste your time

[Broclee]

I like this disc, it's enjoyable.

[heartsandspades]

Of course I've only heard what's on Myspace, but it sounds very amateur as far as electronic music goes. A 12-year old and his E-Jay could have made the beats. I'm sure he could have a fitting voice somewhere else, though.

[thisisadisaster]

love love love this album.

[Cal50]

this album is terrible and anything that anyone from vampire weekend touches, including vampire weekend, is dogshit

[Broclee]

this album is terrible and anything that anyone from vampire weekend touches, including vampire weekend, is dogshit
Lol.

[tentativetitle]

This album is not good

[NorthstarPark]

It's good for what it is, it's nothing ground breaking just some music to have fun to during this summer heat. I can see why some people dont like it though.

[dru]

i enjoy these guys, unique kind of sound

[thespearkid]

guarantee 85% of the kids calling this album shitty have not listen to it.

[imtherealdave]

guarantee 85% of the kids calling this album shitty have not listen to it.
I gave it a listen on their Myspace, but I couldn't take it for very long. I like a lot of artists in this genre, I just don't see what's supposed to be likable about this album.

[thespearkid]

I gave it a listen on their Myspace, but I couldn't take it for very long. I like a lot of artists in this genre, I just don't see what's supposed to be likable about this album.
of course you don't. you haven't listened to it.

[Gregory Robson]

I don't like cursing in a review. Honestly.
Have to agree 100 percent. I really find vulgarity in reviews off-putting and a tad bit sophomoric. Our English/American vernacular is chock full of words. Resorting to @#$! and @$#! and others is a letdown. But maybe that's just me.

[briewer]

Saying this is "very amateur" or "not that good" is missing the point of this album. It's like interpreting Lonely Island on their artist merits. This is clearly a corny ass side project that was never intended for any deep reading or interpretation of any kind, but for it's purpose it succeeds pretty throughly. Just dance to the fat-ass beats and get on with your life.

[Steve Henderson]

yeah it's weird, isn't it
It's really fucking weird and shit.

[Steve Henderson]

Have to agree 100 percent. I really find vulgarity in reviews off-putting and a tad bit sophomoric. Our English/American vernacular is chock full of words. Resorting to @#$! and @$#! and others is a letdown. But maybe that's just me.
I disagree. S sometimes a cuss word is the right one for the job. The ideal mix of amusement and rage!

[imtherealdave]

of course you don't. you haven't listened to it.
I made it through a couple of songs. You shouldn't have to torture yourself in an attempt to "enjoy" something. It's quite possible that there are people out there that have different tastes than yours.

[imtherealdave]

I disagree. S sometimes a cuss word is the right one for the job. The ideal mix of amusement and rage!
Profanity is best used sparingly. Otherwise, it loses its impact.

[thespearkid]

I made it through a couple of songs. You shouldn't have to torture yourself in an attempt to "enjoy" something. It's quite possible that there are people out there that have different tastes than yours.
that doesn't have anything to do with what i'm saying.

[imtherealdave]

that doesn't have anything to do with what i'm saying.
Then please elaborate.

[thespearkid]

Then please elaborate.
i'm saying a majority of these kids have not even given this album a chance. they're just so quick to reject something that is challenging (and this album isn't even that difficult to get into, as it's mostly filled with solid pop tunes).

[imtherealdave]

i'm saying a majority of these kids have not even given this album a chance. they're just so quick to reject something that is challenging (and this album isn't even that difficult to get into, as it's mostly filled with solid pop tunes).
Sorry, but I'm not really following you. I gave the album a chance and listened to the first couple songs all of the way through. I didn't like either of them. I even listened to the Amazon samples a few days later trying to give it a second chance because I actually thought the Ra Ra Riot album was pretty good and thought maybe my first impression was off. I don't see how that has nothing to do with what you're saying. You said that listening to the songs off their MySpace didn't count as "listening to it", and I disagree. I'm not going to buy the whole album just to see whether I like it.

[thespearkid]

Sorry, but I'm not really following you. I gave the album a chance and listened to the first couple songs all of the way through. I didn't like either of them. I even listened to the Amazon samples a few days later trying to give it a second chance because I actually thought the Ra Ra Riot album was pretty good and thought maybe my first impression was off. I don't see how that has nothing to do with what you're saying. You said that listening to the songs off their MySpace didn't count as "listening to it", and I disagree. I'm not going to buy the whole album just to see whether I like it.
then i'm not really talking about you. i'm talking about the people who haven't given this album a fair chance and are praising drew's extremely lazy review of the album as if it's an accurate assessment.

[imtherealdave]

That's cool. No worries. I was just still going off something you'd said earlier.

[ihaveblink]

I really like this record. It's kinda cheesy, but a lot of fun.

[Gregory Robson]

Profanity is best used sparingly. Otherwise, it loses its impact.
Agree wholeheartedly. I mean, if our president stood up and spouted off a few profanities in the middle of a speech, people would be aghast, no? In a formal setting, profanity should be kept to a bare minimum, if none at all. CD reviews are written in a public forum, hence the fewer the profanities (preferably none at all) the better. Just sayin'.

[cereal4life]

Have to agree 100 percent. I really find vulgarity in reviews off-putting and a tad bit sophomoric. Our English/American vernacular is chock full of words. Resorting to @#$! and @$#! and others is a letdown. But maybe that's just me.
My thoughts precisely! I know that some think it quite comical, I just don't find it funny.

[Intotheunkn0wn]

I feel that the reviewer did a disservice to the artist by reviewing this album. He spent more time worrying about what people were going to think of his reviews than actually breaking down the music itself. This review did not have the artist's work at heart, but as always the reviewers ability to have his opinion heard on a public forum.

Any future bands that are looking for a review, when you send your work to this site, request a review from anyone but this one.

[yayitsjoe]

i still have yet to grow tired of it.

it's just a great summer album.