CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

2006-02-07

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (heretofore to be referred to as CYHSY) is what Greenskeeper Carl in Caddyshack would probably refer to a “Cinderella story… five former unknowns from Brooklyn, now about to become the Masters Champions”

...Or something.

CYHSY was indeed the ultimate indie success story of 2005. Self-released, self-promoted, and self-distributed, their debut album exploded in the summer of ’05 to almost universal crit acclaim, all without the help of a major label. And despite the freaky-ugly album cover art.

But how does it sound? Alec Ounsworth's vocals have been compared to Talking Heads-era David Byrne’s. And that’s right some of the time, especially on the outstanding Over And Over Again (lost and found). But other comparisons could be made as well. The opening track could be a lost Tom Waits track with its mad-carnival barker vocals and twisted calliope, though it’s not one of my favorites as I am not that much a fan of the Crazy Tom Waits style.. but that’s just me. Other tracks sport Velvet Underground or Feelies hallmarks.

Standout tracks in my opinion are #2, #3, #6, #10 and #12

- Cap’n Kurt