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 05/2010

    MINUS THE BEAR
    Omni

  • reviewed 05/2012

    ANDERS OSBORNE
    BLACK EYE GALAXY

  • reviewed 06/2017

    Sarah Jane Scouten
    When the Bloom Falls from The Rose

  • reviewed 02/2017

    Jocelyn & Chris Arndt
    30,000 Miles

  • reviewed 10/2011

    LYDIA LOVELESS
    Indestructible Machine

  • reviewed 06/2006

    Camera Obscura
    Let's Get Out Of This Country

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.