So I’m trying to figure out which album to review. I have a couple choices, so I listen to the first one on the list, “Future Breeds” by Hot Hot Heat. And I like it. The energy of it. I think, yeah, this. But then, a few songs in, I’m gone. I’m at once in the music and then totally out of it. It just sort of loses me. Or maybe I lose it. Either way, we’ve stopped communicating. So, ok, I think, I’ll listen to the next one down, LP4, from Ratatat. Electronic, samples. Computer mastery. I’m into it. It’s textured, interesting. Good. But here again, I’m out. One song runs into the other. Something about the elements all sounds the same. And it’s like that with both. And I listen to them both again and am no closer to any sort of communion with either album.
Here’s the thing, though. This all means nothing. I like these albums. There’s a lot going on here. There is detail and certain influence and I appreciate that. There’s not even a “but” here. I’m just going to cede to the fact that I think sometimes you need to have a history with things, whether it be art or music or literature, in order to really appreciate them, and, certainly, to assess them properly. And I think this is the case here. I can say I think both these albums are good. There is a lot to them. LP4, even now, is growing on me. I would suggest you take a listen. If you’ve followed either of these bands, I think you’ll like what they’ve done. Both seem true. And that is definitely something.
-Serena Hedison
Both albums will be release June 8, 2010 on Dangerbird Records and XL respectively
