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 01/2013

    VARIOUS
    Django Unchained: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

  • reviewed 02/2012

    FIELD MUSIC
    Plumb

  • reviewed 02/2014

    NO
    El Prado

  • reviewed 12/2006

    MY MORNING JACKET
    Okonokos

  • reviewed 12/2009

    JOHN MAYER
    BATTLE STUDIES

  • reviewed 03/2013

    BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB
    Specter at the Feast

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.