I don't know when the last time I listened to Radiohead was. In fact--and you might stone me for this one--I didn't even download In Rainbows when it was free. But I feel like everything I've been listening to I've been comparing to Radiohead. It pops up in both of these reviews, for albums by Band Marino (???) and Matt and Isom. I also make a lot of water references all the time, for someone living in landlocked Colorado.
The Sea and The Beast, by virtue of its title and Florida roots, unabashedly lends itself to the water comparisons. I get pretty corny in this review. I'm not gonna lie. But I mean every generous word of it, including the part about "the most careful storytelling and songwriting of our time." I had a lot of fun poring over the lyrics and playing through the songs, and obviously the interview with Nathan Bond. (Ah, if only I had been blogging this stuff back then. There was a lot of backstory to that, too.)
The review for August Jesus Depression, I'm afraid, may also come off as pretty sycophant*, but again, I don't write out of my rump*. If this were any less of an album, the fact that it's entirely free would be half the reason I'm writing about it. Here it's just an added bonus. But if you feel compelled to show your love in currency form (which you will) you can buy their Black & White EP on iTunes.
Interestingly, I'd say that the lyrics of The Sea and The Beast are much darker in nature than August Jesus Depression, whereas the sonic ambiance might suggest the reverse. Matt and Isom are more fit to the Radiohead comparison than the rowdier Band Marino, but their lyrics, doused in simple spirituality and meditative repetition, are decidedly more hopeful. You'll have this banged into your head when you read the review, but possibly my favorite thing about The Sea and The Beast is all the dark irony.
Anyways, stop reading. You probably don't even need to read the reviews at this point, but you're obviously welcome to. Just go buy the CDs for goodness sake.
*you'll notice I like to use ridiculous, sometimes archaic verbage that nobody else uses after the SATs. it's actually kind of a hobby.
PS: A MILLION thanks to everyone who participated in Maracafest '08. I shelled out some gift cards, CDs and, of course, the coveted red maracas to people who I didn't know were reading. You guys are the bomb, and year #3 was definitely better with the handful of people who, say, know what the Turkosaur is, own a coloRADo mix CD, sport our stickers or at least found our site looking for Scene Aesthetic pictures**. You are what makes the clouds roll in. -PD
**this happens a lot. It's probably one of our most common search times, on which I definitely need to work. Through Google Images, this will apparently often lead you to my review of The Simple Discussion's album, where I make a brief reference to The Scene Aesthetic.
The Sea and The Beast, by virtue of its title and Florida roots, unabashedly lends itself to the water comparisons. I get pretty corny in this review. I'm not gonna lie. But I mean every generous word of it, including the part about "the most careful storytelling and songwriting of our time." I had a lot of fun poring over the lyrics and playing through the songs, and obviously the interview with Nathan Bond. (Ah, if only I had been blogging this stuff back then. There was a lot of backstory to that, too.)
The review for August Jesus Depression, I'm afraid, may also come off as pretty sycophant*, but again, I don't write out of my rump*. If this were any less of an album, the fact that it's entirely free would be half the reason I'm writing about it. Here it's just an added bonus. But if you feel compelled to show your love in currency form (which you will) you can buy their Black & White EP on iTunes.
Interestingly, I'd say that the lyrics of The Sea and The Beast are much darker in nature than August Jesus Depression, whereas the sonic ambiance might suggest the reverse. Matt and Isom are more fit to the Radiohead comparison than the rowdier Band Marino, but their lyrics, doused in simple spirituality and meditative repetition, are decidedly more hopeful. You'll have this banged into your head when you read the review, but possibly my favorite thing about The Sea and The Beast is all the dark irony.
Anyways, stop reading. You probably don't even need to read the reviews at this point, but you're obviously welcome to. Just go buy the CDs for goodness sake.
*you'll notice I like to use ridiculous, sometimes archaic verbage that nobody else uses after the SATs. it's actually kind of a hobby.
PS: A MILLION thanks to everyone who participated in Maracafest '08. I shelled out some gift cards, CDs and, of course, the coveted red maracas to people who I didn't know were reading. You guys are the bomb, and year #3 was definitely better with the handful of people who, say, know what the Turkosaur is, own a coloRADo mix CD, sport our stickers or at least found our site looking for Scene Aesthetic pictures**. You are what makes the clouds roll in. -PD
**this happens a lot. It's probably one of our most common search times, on which I definitely need to work. Through Google Images, this will apparently often lead you to my review of The Simple Discussion's album, where I make a brief reference to The Scene Aesthetic.
