|
| |
|
|
|
Review Summary: Summer jamz. It feels slightly disingenuous to have to begin this review – indeed, any review – with a mention of another band, but despite agonizing over the matter for a couple of days now I simply can’t shake the feeling that the context in which I’d be most comfortable hosting an online discussion about Bronze Radio Return’s Up, On, and Over is the one that mentions that other exuberant, slightly-high-on-helium indie rock release of the summer – namely, a certain Modern Vampires of the City.
But while it’s my fervent wish that this chosen critical angle does not end up casting the Hartford sextet as a less-famous Vampire Weekend – for they most certainly deserve much better than that – the fact remains that there is much commonality to be found in the musical tropes of these two outfits, save for one small, vital difference: Up, On, and Over is coded for summer enjoyment and not much else. It’s a pure and simple goal, and it’s hard to come away without appreciating the fact that within the folds of this record resides a crucial honesty that’s rarely glimpsed in many of indie rock’s more popular, critically-acclaimed narratives. In other words: if you chose to believe, as I do, that deliberate and thoughtful exploration of more mature and world-weary themes – like the privilege of youth and disillusionment with American foreign policy (or what else have you) – should always deserve a place in our collective Pantheon of Respectable Art, then the corollary is that pieces which elect to go the other way, and ride the wake of euphoria until it simply can’t go any further, must be held in the same regard.
Bronze Radio Return exhibit these reckless tendencies to the nth degree on their fourth studio release, and there’s an enviable sense of abandon in their choosing to create pieces that treat even the most mundane of occurrences as being worthy of celebration. Take the excellent “Mister Mister”, for instance, which I’m fairly certain contains one of the summer’s best choruses (“Hey mister mister you can have my days but you better leave my nights ALOOO-OOONE!!!” sings vocalist Chris Henderson), or “Melting in My Icebox” – a true out-and-out anthem if there ever was one – which aims for the feeling of driving down a wide, sunbaked freeway with windswept hair and the roof down, and succeeds with flying colours. Elsewhere, the after-effects of the band’s decision to retire to a farm in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia to write their fourth studio release is not lost as well, with songs like “Sylvan” and “World Spin” slipping neatly into the back-end of Bronze Radio Return’s oeuvre of country-tinged folk-pop. With so much industriousness on show, it’s a bit of a shame that there’s a perceptible – even if it’s ever so slight – dip in quality towards the end of Up, On, and Over, but I guess to moan overmuch about that would be the equivalent of arguing that summers should not exist because they tend to lead into autumn.
|
Album Rating: 3.8
So.
How obvious is the rust guys? =S
| | | Album Rating: 3.8
Oh, and stream:
http://bit.ly/1bEgHUG
| | |
I must say...
you really put the intro into introspective
;]
nice work Irving, the rust is barely noticeable :]
| | |
Saw these guys open a free music festival at a small venue in Pittsburgh, surprisingly good concert considering I didn't actually know them. Will read the review soon
| | |
Really nice work, Irving. You have such a way with words, man.
| | |
gd summary
| | | Album Rating: 3.8
@ Brostep: Yeah this album kinda caught me off guard. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get into it. The thrills can occasionally feel like they're on the wee-too-light side, admittedly, but that really is splitting hairs. It's good summer fun, so no complaints here.
@ Omaha: Too kind bro. Or are you just trying to get me to review your EP here?
;)
| | |
BTW, would you like some constructive feedback/criticism from your local friendly contrib?
| | | Album Rating: 3.8
Go right ahead sir =) Be gentle though. It might hurt my feelings and I don't want to haz a sads.
Hahahahah I kid, GET AT ME BRO
| | |
All right then, here goes:
ONE SENTENCE INTRO PARAGRAPH YAH not necessarily a bad thing and I actually think it's appropriate
it’s my fervent wish that this chosen critical angle does not end up casting the Hartford sextet as a less-famous Vampire Weekend – for they most certainly deserve much better than that – the fact remains that there is much commonality to be found in the musical tropes of these two outfits, save for one small, vital difference: Up, On, and Over is coded for summer enjoyment and not much else.
This is a super intricate sentence. Parts like "fervent wish that this chosen critical angle" and "much commonality to be found in the musical tropes" are fine, but they also seem a little weighty, you know? Like, in a P4K 8 paragraph review they'd fit right in but here, considering the review is 3 paragraphs, they take up just a little too much space IMO. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a stylistic preference
| | |
it’s hard to come away without appreciating the fact that
Is "come away" the phrase you want to use? I don't really "get it" in this context
if you chose to believe, as I do, that deliberate and thoughtful exploration of more mature and world-weary themes – like the privilege of youth and disillusionment with American foreign policy (or what else have you) – should always deserve a place in our collective Pantheon of Respectable Art, then the corollary is that pieces which elect to go the other way, and ride the wake of euphoria until it simply can’t go any further, must be held in the same regard.
Especially given the "rust" you refer to (which I don't really see) this is a FANTASTIC sentence. Seriously good, I love the concept of "pantheon of respectable art"
n-th
I think it's just "nth," but I may be wrong
being worthy of celebration
You could probably just say "worth celebrating" and save two words
driving down a wide, sunbaked freeway with windswept hair and the roof down
I take issue with this not because it's bad (which it's not) but because I don't agree that you need to have hair that can be swept by the wind to enjoy driving down the "sunbaked freeway" (though it does help, admittedly)
The review ends just a bit abruptly - I'd think even a throwaway conclusion would be better. Maybe that's just your style, but I don't know
Great review overall, I love your writing style - it skirts pretentious but is just playful enough to be really really good without actually reaching that odious "level of pretension." I'd love to see you write more! Would you mind looking at my review for Yeezus in return? It's fine if you don't want to but I got 125 or so comments and a grand total of maybe 2 vaguely referenced the review itself so I'd love to see someone else's perspective (besides Jacob who already looked at it)
damn "comment is too long"
| | |
I got 125 or so comments and a grand total of maybe 2 vaguely referenced the review itself
Haha, the joys of this site huh?
| | |
Exactly, that and my Courage My Love review (which got exactly 0 comments from other people) made me decide to post smaller stuff on MD only as it's pointless to post that stuff on Sput
| | | Album Rating: 3.8
Thanks Brostep! And yeah sure, will go and pop by (and write you a proper comment) when I get back (I'm at work now - it's 9.45 am in Malaysialand lol).
| | | Album Rating: 3.8
Also -
EVERYONE DO LISTEN TO THIS IT'S QUITE GOOD
| | |
I'll give these guys a try. Good review, Irving. Always good to see you around.
| | | Album Rating: 3.8
Thanks and cheers good sir. And I do hope to write more very soon =)
| | |
Great but not that much convincing though,But effort must be applauded for sure...
longest drivers
| | |
one of my friends is obsessed with these guys, they seem ok from what i've heard
| | | Album Rating: 3.8
Have you heard this, Chortles?
Also I'm curious if that friend is a dude or a dudette. Lol.
| | | |
|
| |
