TUNE-YARDS

WhoKill

2011-04-25

For Tune-Yards’ second release, Merrill Garbus has gone a bit Lo-Fi. Not that WhoKill doesn’t have its share of samples, effects, and tribal beats. There are also plenty of straight up vocals, displaying Ms. Garbus’ awesome range. She can go from guttural rapping (“Gangsta”), to pop chanteuse (“Wooly Wolly Gong”), to something akin to Bjork (“You Yes You”)...sometimes all in one song (“Powa”). All this is backed by interesting, often home-made instrumentation. Songs often seem patched together, but it doesn’t seem to be detrimental...indeed it works to advantage. While WhoKill is intriguing and somewhat eccentric, it doesn’t quite measure up to Tune-yards’ esoteric first release, Birdbrains, an album that I liked immensely. Rebecca Ruth

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 04/2010

    MAYER HAWTHORNE
    A Strange Arrangement

  • reviewed 01/2017

    The Modern Savage
    Unwilling Participants

  • reviewed 06/2006

    POTATOE BABIES
    The ‘Festival’ Compilation (a.k.a. the Masturbation Compilation)

  • reviewed 11/2008

    THE POSTMARKS
    By the Numbers

  • reviewed 03/2011

    SMITH WESTERNS
    Dye It Blonde

  • reviewed 03/2010

    LONELADY
    Nerve Up

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.