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 RuthVARIOUS
Grand Rapids Compilation
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
Challengers
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Ballad Of The Broken Seas
MIDLAKE
Antiphon
Gabriel Wolfchild And The Northern Light
Mornings Like These EP
THE BIRD AND THE BEE
Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future
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