![]() ![]() Matt MitchellĪpproximately five seconds into its new album Freak Frequency, the Chicago-based band Stuck map out their stylistic territory and begin filling it with sounds on “The Punisher.” There’s the dry thwack of the drums, which keep a steady rhythm even as they contribute to the jittery ruckus unfolding around them. By the tracklist’s end, Romantic Piano morphs into the opus of someone whose talents and vision could give a crack of lightning a run for its money. But by no means is her piano-playing merely a second option in the wake of change. At its core, Romantic Piano is a perfect love-letter from Margaret about embracing the instrument she turned to when her voice couldn’t continue. Much akin to the recent, swelling trend of artists recording their albums in a live headspace-in hopes of harnessing what an on-stage energy might look like on tape-Margaret catches all of the imperfections happening concurrently-whether it’s a crackle of house foundation of a street growing busy-and fashions everything into an immersive nebula of DIY ethos. Perhaps the greatest part of Romantic Piano‘s makeup is how human all of it sounds. Employed across the album are, as Margaret calls them, field recordings of nature that delight in unison with the pianos, horns, drums, bass and vocals she and her peers plug into throughout the 12-song, 27-minute run-time. Romantic Piano was engineered predominantly by Sean O’Keefe, while Margaret mixed and produced much of it alongside Yoni Wolf. Disposable Everything knocks on the door of modern masterpiece status, as AJJ have taken every single thing they do well, shoved it into a blender and made a chunky, absurd, glorious, gilded smoothie with it. There is no demand for revolution on this album only the stark realization by the men who made it that they, too, have been lubing the cog that makes the machine of inequity crawl forward. In a world plagued by mainstream artists attempting to spin shallow money-grabs into wholehearted, political decrees, the band is not all that interested in shining the empathy on in ways they cannot authentically provide. What role should five men have in preserving any semblance of goodness that might still be left in this country? On Disposable Everything, AJJ aren’t quite sure they should have a role at all. Find the best albums of the week below, from priority picks to honorable mentions.ĪLBUM OF THE WEEK | AJJ: Disposable Everythingĭisposable Everything is AJJ’s big reconciliation with the current state of affairs and the band’s place in all of it. We follow our regular roundups of the best new songs by highlighting the most compelling new records you need to hear. Paste is the place to kick off each and every New Music Friday. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |