Odd Blood

Take anything you liked about "All Hours" and add cheese... (2010-06-28) : 2/5
Practically every element that made All Hours Cymbals an outstanding album is still present on Odd Blood. Yet, for some reason, they're used in a completely different manner; rearranged, restructured, and retooled into some shallow, cheesy version of themselves.br /br /The electronic elements from the first are no longer just for flair, emphasis, and reinforcement of the overall form of the song. They now ARE the song. And that might not be so bad if they didn't all of a sudden sound like they were coming straight out of an 80's synth-pop group.br /br /The vocal harmony, and vocal multi-tracking, present on the first album is largely absent, and all the international, world-music elements that seemed to come as naturally to them on All Hours Cymbals as it once did to Peter Gabriel, is now an empty imitation of itself fit to soundtrack any Disney cartoon starring a warthog and a meerkat.br /br /I have a a hard time listening to this album. It wasn't just a change in the production budget, it was nearly a complete artistic shift. Or an attempt at self-parody...
It only has four decent songs (2010-06-11) : 1/5
I totally bought this thinking that it was gonna be awesome. It starts of really cool with some serious dark vocoder action on the first song, then the second song, ambling alp, sounds like a good single with its catchy, upbeat spirit. after that, though, the album just dies. the next five songs are just too horrible for me to even try to review. track 8, strange reunions, is pretty cool; it kinda reminds me of the old style yeasayer with that middle eastern tone to it. the next song is crap, then the last song is a fitting closure to a proper album.br /br /I give this album one star because even though it has 40% good, this band should know better than to put out such wretched filth as that other 60%. it's kinda like when firemen commit crimes: the justice system is 20 times harsher on them than on regular crooks; we should be equally harsh on these guys because they're better than this.
Say Yea (2010-05-12) : 5/5
Thoughtful, layered, rich, fun songs. I get a little Flaming Lips, Talking Heads, Passion Pit, but more than those comparisons is a band here that is truly making music their way. They are innovators and will hopefully make music for many years to come.
Buy this record! (2010-05-05) : 5/5
Ok, Ok, Ok....It's not "All Hours Cymbals". But that's why it's great. Yeasayer are artists. They are not going to stay stuck in one musical genre. br /br /At first listen, I was disappointed in "Odd Blood". Gone are my comparisons to 70's legends like Led Zeppelin or Fleetwood Mac. Now, they sound more like Depeche Mode. WTF??? I could listen to just the bassline on any track from "AHC" and be mesmerized. "Odd Blood" dumps Yeasayer's analog electricity and replaces it buttons, knobs, plug-ins and VST compatible software working seemlessly with their Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)....They've gone 80's. br /br /What's similar about both records is impeccable songwriting, thoughtful lyrics, storytelling, humor and great musicianship/programming. br /br /THE SOLUTION: Buy both records!!! Then...listen to them over over again. These are not songs that hit you instantly. These songs grow on you....and stay with you. You will pull these records out again in ten years...and they will be just as relevant.br /br /Yeasayer creates musical dialogues by crossing through genres styles. No matter what genre they choose, the songwriting and passion they put into their sound is the best thing pop music fans could ever hope for. They respect their listeners and keep us curious.
Incredible (2010-04-23) : 5/5
This is one of the greatest albums I've heard in a long time.br /br /Yes, it's more "new wave" than the debut, but it sounds like Yeasayer has grown and experimented and gone in new directions, not like they've abandoned their original sound or sold out as other reviewers have implied. There are bands that crank out the same sound album after album, but I much prefer a band who matures. I liked the first album but found this one more compelling.br /br /This is not dancy pop, but strange and weird and middle-eastern influenced and dark, with a new techno direction. It sounded good in a mix with the Postal Service.br /br /If you're unsure, buy O.N.E. -- I dare you to get it out of your head.br /br /