POST ANIMAL Love Gibberish
( Self )
Post Animal framed an Asia poster ? The Chicago-based band has built a reputation like that of a silverfish – tentacled yet sleek and difficult to nail down – but uses direct means to occasionally upend Love Gibberish . The nods to “ Heat Of The Moment ” (“ Cancer Moon ”) and Van Halen (“ No More Sports ”) could be interpreted as tongue-in-cheek or a preview of broader , pop-oriented horizons . More importantly , those moments ( as well as “ Puppy Dog ”) break the fourth wall before stacks of odd-metered rhythms , and resting-heart-rate vocals can barricade the band in . Songs like the Pink Floyd-y “ When You Walk Towards Me ” and indulgent , multi-suite “ Infinite Zone ” benefit . As a result , feeling more like excursions than mere exercises .
– Steve Forstneger
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ARCADE FIRE We
( Columbia )
Positioned as an heir to the earnest , anthemic arena rock of U2 , Arcade Fire released a string of successful albums in the 2000s while remaining a somewhat obscure Canadian collective . Singer Win Butler never assumed the cult of personality like a Bono or a Chris Martin ; instead , he blended into the group , which dressed like a steam-punk drama club . Rising to fame rather quickly without scoring massive hit singles , Arcade Fire soon gained the attention of legends like David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen , who both vouched for their substance . Then like many bands from the era , at the apex of their popularity , they decided to release their “ important ” double album Reflektor which sank like a stone upon release . As a knee-jerk reaction , they tried a different direction by hiring Daft Punk ’ s Thomas Bangalter to produce Everything Now , the frivolous disco-lite follow-up . While the Abba-flavored title track became a hit , the overall feel of that album seemed a bit awkward , like seeing a divorced father in his 50s donning a leisure suit and hitting the dance clubs . This sets up We , their new album , as a possible comeback of its own . Comprised of multiple long suites similar to their 2004 debut Funeral and helmed by Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich , We bring Arcade Fire back to their early-aughts roots . While Godrich utilizes some of the glitchy electronics he is known for , that
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