By David Thomas
March 2, 2004
$5.99 at Best Buy Pick of the Week
THE GET UP KIDS, Guilt Show (Vagrant)
Often I get a few weeks with a new disc to let it seep in to my subconscious.
The latest from THE GET UP KIDS had plenty of time in my stereo. I took it on a
road trip, listened to it around town, and even had it on more than once while
I was working. In all that time very little of the new material ever made me
take notice.
With the exception of opening track “Man of Conviction,” there are extremely few
endearing moments. That song has all that catchy pop-infused rock that made THE
GET UP KIDS one of indie rocks most endearing bands, but as soon as “The One
You Want” infests the speakers, the band is churning out sappy pop music replete
with “Whoo-hoos.”
Many readers might think I derive joy or some sadistic pleasure from ripping
big-time bands in print. That’s not true. I’d always prefer getting a good CD
to a bad one. Why would I want to subject myself to lesser art? Unfortunately
THE GET UP KIDS have put themselves into a dangerous corner. They don’t want to
play standard indie-rock anymore but they also won’t go full-tilt towards the
WILCO side either. Their purgatory creates an uneven mix of sounds and genres
that, while not offensive, is completely unengaging.
Perhaps the album will grow on me and I promise you all that an update will
follow if it does. But I don’t see that happening.
Indie Pick of the Week
THE FRAMES, Setlist (Anti)
The folks at Epitaph’s Anti label have been on a roll. I don’t think they’ve
released anything lately I haven’t genuinely enjoyed. From NICK CAVE to the BLACK
KEYS, they’ve generated refreshing albums that don’t fit anywhere else.
For fans of THE FRAMES, this live album is just a stellar recording from 2002.
But for those that aren’t familiar with this Irish rock band, like me, it’s a
collection of well-written rock songs performed with an intensity only a
hometown show can elicit.
Glen Hansard’s vocals are in terrific shape and he belts out lyrics with the
tone of Robert Pollard mixed with a slight Springsteen rasp. It’s the rasp,
though, that will turn anyone into a rock star. A good rasp adds intensity,
sincerity and, for a live release, authenticity.
Through mellow sing-a-longs like “Lay Me Down” to up-tempo numbers like “Rent
Day Blues” THE FRAMES are in rare form on these 13 tracks. Fans of THE FRAMES
will pick this up regardless but for those of us looking for a pure rock
diversion, Setlist is a more than proper selection.
Surprise Pick of the Week
HOCKEY NIGHT, Rad Zapping (1 mg)
Sometimes I get a CD and I don’t know why or how. Recently HOCKEY NIGHT’s 2002
release arrived in the mail and I’m glad it did. Fans of BECK, DAN THE
AUTOMATER, SOULWAX and like-minded schizophrenic artists will gobble this hodge
podge of studio trickery, rock, rap and disco. Supposedly the work of one Paul
Sprangers the album sounds like a cohesive band producing a vast array of
sounds. The quality in the recording is exceptional even if the artwork is
jarring.
If you can actually find Rad Zapping somewhere I seriously recommend
giving it a listen. Unlike THE GET UP KIDS' latest, this disc instantly had my
ears on alert for each subsequent track. That just proves you never know where
good music is going to come from.
Next Week: NOW IT’S OVERHEAD, Fall Back Open (Saddle Creek). The Saddle Creek sound…now it’s overrated?
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