Jeremy Aaron
04/08/09, 01:08 PM
Bishop Allen - Grrr...
Record Label: Dead Oceans Records
Release Date: March 10, 2009
Who?
Grrr... is the third full-length from quirky Brooklyn indie-rockers Bishop Allen. The album arrived with some anticipation with the band enjoying increased visibility, having had several of their previous recordings featured on TV shows, advertisements and the big screen. Following 2007's The Broken String, it is their second release under the Dead Oceans label, having released their 2003 debut, Charm School, on their own label.
How Is It?
Grrr... represents a slight change of course musically for Bishop Allen, though it carries a similar allure to their earlier work, meaning that, if you appreciate the lively, simple and slightly eccentric tunes of their back catalog, you should find this album to be enjoyable as well. While keeping with their tendency to favor traditional song structures, the band's overall approach is less diffuse and more stylistically confined this time around, seemingly expanding upon the influences found on The Broken String's "Like Castanets" for a good portion of the album. Strings and horns occasionally make their way into the mix as well, as they have in the past, and the calypso percussion gives much of the album a Caribbean flavor, a unifying motif that supplies a consistent atmosphere but tends to render some of the songs indistinct. While that sounds like a complaint, and to a degree it is, it's a bit of a contrived one, as it doesn't take away from one's ability to enjoy the album, though it may ultimately prove to be a hindrance to its long-term memorability.
Anyone seeing the title of the album and expecting something slightly more sinister from Bishop Allen will immediately have their fears placated (or hopes dashed) from the outset of "Dimmer," the album's opening cut, as it's clear that the band's songwriters Justin Rice and Christian Rudder are still content to bounce along cheerfully, even incorporating the childlike chant "Olly olly oxen free, can you see me?" into the song's lyrics. The muted surf-rock riffs and swaying strings add a touch of the aforementioned tropical flair, before it takes over completely on the light, marimba-led "The Lion and the Tea Cup." The island percussion accents even add a breezy feel to the sequence of "South China Moon" and "Dirt on Your New Shoes," on which Bishop Allen actually sound like a rock band, with more electric guitar crunch than they've used in the past.
The album isn't without its ill-advised moments, most notably "The Ancient Commonsense of Things," which is frustratingly the most memorable song, with the annoying mantra of "Oh, oh, the ancient commonsense of things," sure to get stuck in your head, much to your chagrin. It's unfortunate that, when the album stops, the most enduring recollection in my mind is that repeated line. That's not to say that there's nothing here that's worth remembering. "True or False" showcases a bright horn section and the honeyed vocals of Darbie Nowatka, who only serves to augment the bands playful tone, injecting a hint of innocence as well. Likewise, the sing-along harmonies, sprightly orchestration and interjecting guitars make "Shanghaied" a jalapeno in a jar of mild banana peppers. Also not to be forgotten is "Cue the Elephants," with its throwback surf-rock character accentuating the record's warm weather ambience.
Grrr... is composed of thirteen flights-of-fancy, most of them fun. With the pleasant images it conjures and the carefree air that it carries throughout most of its duration, there's a lot on this album that's easy to like. However, much like the likable people at the office, the album doesn't seem destined for "best friend" status. Its perpetual effervescence might be unnerving to keep around all the time, but it can certainly be a day-brightener to have as an acquaintance.
Bishop Allen's The Broken String
Page France's Come, I'm a Lion
The Rosewood Thieves' From Decker House
I'm From Barcelona's Who Killed Harry Houdini
Saturday Looks Good to Me's All Our Summer Songs
Check out Bishop Allen on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/bishopallen).
Record Label: Dead Oceans Records
Release Date: March 10, 2009
Who?
Grrr... is the third full-length from quirky Brooklyn indie-rockers Bishop Allen. The album arrived with some anticipation with the band enjoying increased visibility, having had several of their previous recordings featured on TV shows, advertisements and the big screen. Following 2007's The Broken String, it is their second release under the Dead Oceans label, having released their 2003 debut, Charm School, on their own label.
How Is It?
Grrr... represents a slight change of course musically for Bishop Allen, though it carries a similar allure to their earlier work, meaning that, if you appreciate the lively, simple and slightly eccentric tunes of their back catalog, you should find this album to be enjoyable as well. While keeping with their tendency to favor traditional song structures, the band's overall approach is less diffuse and more stylistically confined this time around, seemingly expanding upon the influences found on The Broken String's "Like Castanets" for a good portion of the album. Strings and horns occasionally make their way into the mix as well, as they have in the past, and the calypso percussion gives much of the album a Caribbean flavor, a unifying motif that supplies a consistent atmosphere but tends to render some of the songs indistinct. While that sounds like a complaint, and to a degree it is, it's a bit of a contrived one, as it doesn't take away from one's ability to enjoy the album, though it may ultimately prove to be a hindrance to its long-term memorability.
Anyone seeing the title of the album and expecting something slightly more sinister from Bishop Allen will immediately have their fears placated (or hopes dashed) from the outset of "Dimmer," the album's opening cut, as it's clear that the band's songwriters Justin Rice and Christian Rudder are still content to bounce along cheerfully, even incorporating the childlike chant "Olly olly oxen free, can you see me?" into the song's lyrics. The muted surf-rock riffs and swaying strings add a touch of the aforementioned tropical flair, before it takes over completely on the light, marimba-led "The Lion and the Tea Cup." The island percussion accents even add a breezy feel to the sequence of "South China Moon" and "Dirt on Your New Shoes," on which Bishop Allen actually sound like a rock band, with more electric guitar crunch than they've used in the past.
The album isn't without its ill-advised moments, most notably "The Ancient Commonsense of Things," which is frustratingly the most memorable song, with the annoying mantra of "Oh, oh, the ancient commonsense of things," sure to get stuck in your head, much to your chagrin. It's unfortunate that, when the album stops, the most enduring recollection in my mind is that repeated line. That's not to say that there's nothing here that's worth remembering. "True or False" showcases a bright horn section and the honeyed vocals of Darbie Nowatka, who only serves to augment the bands playful tone, injecting a hint of innocence as well. Likewise, the sing-along harmonies, sprightly orchestration and interjecting guitars make "Shanghaied" a jalapeno in a jar of mild banana peppers. Also not to be forgotten is "Cue the Elephants," with its throwback surf-rock character accentuating the record's warm weather ambience.
Grrr... is composed of thirteen flights-of-fancy, most of them fun. With the pleasant images it conjures and the carefree air that it carries throughout most of its duration, there's a lot on this album that's easy to like. However, much like the likable people at the office, the album doesn't seem destined for "best friend" status. Its perpetual effervescence might be unnerving to keep around all the time, but it can certainly be a day-brightener to have as an acquaintance.
Bishop Allen's The Broken String
Page France's Come, I'm a Lion
The Rosewood Thieves' From Decker House
I'm From Barcelona's Who Killed Harry Houdini
Saturday Looks Good to Me's All Our Summer Songs
Check out Bishop Allen on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/bishopallen).