I drove home from Birmingham tonight to see Alt-J perform at the godforsaken Masquerade. I don't have time to blog about it now because I have to drive back early in the morning, but I'll just point out that Soundcheck's Maura Johnston and Chris Weingarten included Alt-J among their Worst Music Of 2012, their least favorite, least memorable and just plain worst music of the year, calling Alt-J a "mealy indie-rock gruel barely bolstered by thin, noodly attempts at 'prog rock,' paired with a sour whine."
On the other hand, All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen raved, "This record has sucked me into its trippy world like no other. Each pop/art/rock song here morphs from verse to chorus to bridge with deft precision. Rarely will 20 seconds go by before a tune unfolds with shifting arrangements, jolting starts and stops — solo voice to harmonies, solo instrument to full band — something we expect from prog-rock and rarely get with catchy pop music. The lyrics are the secret potion, though, dispensed in a way that feels cartoonish at times, film noir at other times. That exaggerated style creates a puzzle that unfolds with each listen, revealing bizarre stories and characters in phrases that are fresh and mysterious, funny and sometimes brutal. Listen over and over for lasting effect."
I found it to be worth the drive.
Bob Boilen's correct. I'm glad you didn't miss them, if only because it meant I wasn't the oldest person in the room. The next decision is whether or not to pay twice as much to see them at the Tabernacle later this year.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree, and wonder why anyone feels obligated to post a "Worst Music" article of any year to start with. What's wrong with those people?
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