All Roads Lead to Duck: The National - Boxer

There's nothing like a new album to get you through standstill traffic. The Rockists took yet another road trip. This time it was to OBX (or the Outer Banks for you less dignified folk). Thinking we could beat traffic the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend by leaving at 1pm (didn't happen) we waited hesitantly to start Boxer until after our Sonic trip. Realizing that it wouldn't happen for at least 2 hours (it took 4), we hooked up the iPod to hear the rhythmic piano chords of "Fake Empire."

Following up Alligator shouldn't be an easy task. After listening to the first two songs you can sense the natural progression of their music (the constant crescendo into horns in "Fake Empire" and the off beat percussion with little more than monotone lyrics in "Mistaken for Strangers"). On first listening, though, the rest of the album was a little disappointing. There aren't any balls out, heart on the table rock songs like the ones that peppered Alligator (which is what drew me to The National in the first place). The vocal melodies seemed lazy and unenthusiastic. Hell, there are even pitch problems in "Start a War." Maybe I'm wrong and Matt Berringer likes singing in a sliding diminished key, but it just isn't pleasant to my ear.

Now, before you crucify me for hating on these guys. Like Mr. Holland with John Coltrane, the more I listen to the album the more it grows on me. I now think it's a fantastic release. I think the musicality of "Ada" finally sold me on the album. So there you have it. I like it.

Oh, and the Outer Banks is gorgeous this time of year.

Super Bowl Sunday: Field Music - Tones of Town

The members of The Rockist Society meet at least once a month to listen to a new or generally unknown album to which none of said members have listened and drink genre/band fitting beverages.

I don't know if it was the strength of the G&Ts, anticipation for the Super Bowl or the company of my fellow Rockists, but good goddamn, I friggin love Tones of Town.

Ok, I have a confession to make. Before the listening, I actually had listened to the album no less than 7 times total. The first I had ever heard of Field Music was when the video to "A House is Not a Home" was released on youtube. I was hooked. I subsequently looked up anything I could find from this band and was not disappointed.

With it's seemingly manic drum beat and driving 12 beat guitar riff, "Give It Lose It Take It" opens the album with force. The album goes straight into "Sit Tight" with a Modest Mouse sort of feel developing into a breakdown of layered beat box, keys and their ever present "ooooooooo"s. Alternating from poppy licks to mellow harmonies, many songs on the album are supplemented with strings, which makes this amateur blogger wonder what the trio will do for their show at the Rock and Roll Hotel in March.

Tones of Town times in only 32 minutes and, much like a third of a gopher, it arouses your appetite without bedding it back down. No song is over 4 minutes, which leaves the listener wanting more. This is most true on "A Gap Has Appeared," whose powerful rhythmic composition section lasts for a meager 75 seconds.

The album isn't released in the States until 2/20, so if you want it now, you'll have to shell out a couple bucks to Mr. Jobs or send some quid over the pond. It's worth it.

Also, check out their earlier stuff. It's just as quality.

Field Music - Closer At Hand
Field Music - She Can Do What She Wants
Field Music - Tones Of Town