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 02/2011

    ALEXANDER
    Alexander

  • reviewed 02/2011

    DIANE BIRCH
    The Velveteen Age

  • reviewed 06/2010

    JACK JOHNSON
    To the Sea

  • reviewed 03/2005

    Inara George
    All Rise

  • reviewed 04/2014

    THUS OWLS
    Turning Rocks

  • reviewed 11/2004

    Luna
    Rendezvous

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.