Sort-of-Reviews: Portishead's Third vs. Band of Horses' Cease to Begini happened to acquire these 2 albums at the same time so im psuedo-reviewing them at the same time. here's the good thing: they're both good. here's the over-extrapolating thing: whether you like one more than the other depends on why you listen to music (dun dun!!)
its been 12 years (i think) since portishead's last album, and I guess not much has changed in their world. Portishead still sounds like Beth Whatshername singing dolefully (never more appropriately used than here) over meticulously prepared trip-hop beats combined with sparse, sort-of-amelodic backdrops. that she sings stuff like "im always so unsure" is just a bonus for me.
countering that sort of rainy day insularity is band of horses, who have a peacefully inspired sound to them. the lead singer has a pretty pleasant southern twang, and the fuzzy guitar harmonies bolster the vaguely bluegrass vocal harmonies. and if im riding my bike through central park, that's what i want on.
but i guess it depends on how you listen to music. im fine with pleasant (even uplifting!) scenery-music, but i want music that feels like it keeps playing when you take your headphones out. and that's what the first listen to portishead was like. which, since its kind of an unnerving album, made me a little jittery, but hey, we all make sacrifices.
thoughts?
1 comment:
Speaking as a rep for those who are jittery at baseline, I think an album that reminds one of bike rides through the park sounds just peachy.
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