How do you follow up an album that is so distinct and brilliant in its amalgamation of “world music” and modern rock that it instantly became timeless? This was the question Yeasayer were facing when recording the follow up to 2007’s ‘All Hour Cymbals’. And the answer? Well in short you don’t…
Instead the band sought new horizons. By design ‘Odd Blood’ often veers into chart friendly territory yet crucially maintains a fiercely individualistic streak. A will to get people moving appears to be at the core of this more accessible direction, not too unlike recent efforts by fellow New Yorkers TV On The Radio and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
‘Odd Blood’ truly succeeds because tracks like ‘O.N.E.’, ‘Madder Red’,‘Ambling Alp’ and ‘Mondegreen’ work just as well when heard within the album as a whole as they do individually. The album is littered with subtle allusion to 80s sounds confronted with most modern recording techniques to achieve a blend of beats, melodies, keys and shamanistic chanting.
There are few bands around who sound like Yeasayer and even when attempting their version of a so-called accessible album the Brooklynites come out with a sonic mishmash that seduces you into repeat listens. In my mind this is futuristic music from the past.
TRACKS:
NEXT: #03 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2010: Les Savy Fav – Root For Ruin
PREVIOUS: #05 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2010: Tokyo Police Club – Champ
