Liars Sisterworld |
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 | Tracklist:
01 Scissor
02 No Barrier Fun
03 Here Comes All the People
04 Drip
05 Scarecrows on a Killer Slant
06 I Still Can See an Outside World
07 Proud Evolution
08 Drop Dead
09 The Overachievers
10 Goodnight Everything
11 Too Much, Too Much
| Ranking: #118 for 2010 | |
| | other reviews | Cam STAFF (4.5)
Liars form their numerous sounds like Voltron, and, in the meantime, create their best album yet.... |
On 24 Lists
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| Summary: Sisterworld shows that behind every small and opaque locked door hides a disturbing storyline. |
Unashamedly, Liars are completely new to me, essentially starting out on a blank slate. The band’s hit single from Sisterworld, “Scissor” piqued my interest enough to blindly look into their odd combination of post-punk, shoegaze, and experimental rock. Soon enough, “Scissor” turned out to be another attempt for Liars to advance on their already wide spectrum. And that is what makes this album so special; as any particular song can unravel a new variation, following similarly to Sisterworld’s inside album booklet. Within, we find the members of the band seemingly lost in the woods, while the album cover is a small, locked door, essentially uncovering the different paths in the woods. All that is left is whether they chose the correct path.
Sisterworld plays like it is enclosed in a bizarre, melancholy fantasy world. The album is drenched in a numb, comatose state, lacking any genuine happiness. “Scissor” initiates Sisterworld with a hymn of howling ghosts, followed by Angus Andrew muttering, ‘I found her with my scissor/this heart fell to the ground.’ From here, “Scissor” aggressively explodes, turning the mood from a string-arranged prayer of hope to an unexpected resuscitation, ‘she was…ALIVE AND BREATHING.’ At this point, there was nothing that could really damper such a brilliant opening statement, however the album relies on patience to fully bloom. “Here Comes All the People” and “I Still Can See an Outside World” are prime examples of this particular waiting game, littered with minor chord progressions at a relatively low tempo creating suspense that generally never resolves itself. Despite that, some tracks like “Proud Evolution” and “No Barrier Fun” are more obvious, setting up the bulk of the track early allowing pure, unabashed enjoyment. “Proud Evolution” delightfully plays off fluctuating guitar reverb, while Andrew quietly sings without overpowering the aura created. Conversely, tracks like “The Overachievers” and “Scarecrows on a Killer Slant” sound like the post-punk, dancing beats of the 80’s like the Ramones and Screeching Weasel, moving towards a more edgy sound than whimsical, adding that extra tinge of distinction.
As high-maintenance as Sisterworld may have just sounded, the benefits, so to say, are worth the wait. The turtle pace of Sisterworld sets up the album’s demeanor perfectly, as any creepy story should be slowly injected. Liars successfully created a stimulating, challenging, and disturbing record and while it may click immediately for some, don’t get frustrated if you find yourself lost in the woods.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
got into them last year with the self titled so this was a nice surprise, though not something i really listen to frequently tbh
Digging: Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle | | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
need a higher rating
Digging: Titus Andronicus - The Monitor | | | Album Rating: 3.5
I still need to look into their past discography...
Digging: Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights | | | Album Rating: 4
Scarecrows on a Killer Slant
amaazzing.
Digging: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs | | | Album Rating: 3.5
the video for scissor is awesome
Digging: Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard | | | Album Rating: 4.5
^ yes, yes it is.
I still need to hear this, been holding off for some stupid fucking reason.
Digging: Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty | | | Album Rating: 4.5
need a higher rating
123 also don't really get the "turtle pace" or whatever, album runs pretty smooth for me
Digging: Titus Andronicus - The Monitor | | | Album Rating: 3.5
probably because after listening to Dillinger for two weeks straight everything sounds slow, only plausible explanation.
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need a higher rating
this
Digging: Ghastly City Sleep - Moondrifts
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
i agree on the pace. it loses steam after scissor. that track is just epic.
Digging: Oceansize - Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up | | | Album Rating: 4
I feel like I'm the only person who loves "Here Comes All the People" a lot. But the whole album is amazing. Too Much, Too Much is just a gorgeous, and appropriate, closer.
Digging: Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind | | |
Too Much, Too Much is easily the highlight. Love these guys.
Digging: Do Make Say Think - Other Truths
| | | Album Rating: 4
I really like They Were Wrong, So We Drowned. Might check this out.
Digging: Throbbing Gristle - Heathen Earth | | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
This is so good. The third time he says "gun" in Scarecrows is awesome for some reason.
Digging: Boards of Canada - Geogaddi | | | Album Rating: 4.5
With the GOON.
Digging: Tera Melos - Patagonian Rats | | | Album Rating: 4
So much praise, yet so small of a rating. Bump it up!
Digging: Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP | | |
Piqued, dude.
It Piqued your interest.
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haha just saw that
Digging: The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
thank you sir
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easy mistake for me (i always make it) because it makes sense when reading over so that's annoying. also, good review.
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