Tune Yards + Wild Beasts

tUnE-YaRdS
w h o k i l l
[2011; 4AD]










New England native Merrill Garbus crafts unique, unexpected tunes by combining drum loops, ukulele, vocals, and electric base. This album continues to grow on me with each listen, and while some may find the combination of Garbus' bouncing, octave-jumping vocal work and fearless experimentation a bit overwhelming, I become increasingly aware of how multiple listens reveal a creative genius at work. Garbus' ability to fuse experimentation and playfulness in a way that allows her songs to remain accessible is refreshing and, at the very least, praiseworthy. Her lyrics are equally playful, and her arrangements have me discovering new layers each time I listen to a track. Check out the two songs below and see what you think.


Tune-Yards - Gangsta by FBi Radio 


Tune-Yards - Bizness by snipelondon

Wild Beasts
Smother
[2011; Domino]












Two Dancers, Wild Beasts' sophomore album from 2009, was one of my favorite albums to come out that year. I had the opportunity to see them live at Great Scott in Allston, MA with a crowd of about 20 people, and listened to the album regularly throughout 2010 with an appreciation that would have otherwise eluded me. I was excited that the band was nominated for a Mercury Prize (and would have been more upset if they hadn't lost to The XX), but was mostly excited that they were receiving some well-deserved praise. Hayden Thorpe's falsetto vocals alone are enough to marvel at, but when contrasted so nicely with Tom Flemming's deeper, slightly less delicate approach, it is clear the band has an integrity to their craft that is difficult to find and worth listening to. Wild Beasts is also endlessly melodic and catchy, filling albums with bouncing rhythms, well-placed percussion, and delicate atmosphere. Smother, the band's latest, is an extremely polished effort that incorporates subtle electronics in a way we've yet to hear from their previous efforts. It is clear the band takes itself seriously (just check out the video for "Albatross"), and I'm still unsure as to whether or not this suites them well. I do like the album, but I want something a bit more playful, a bit more upbeat, and a bit more, um, wild. Listen to these two tracks and see what you think. 

Wild Beasts - Albatross by rockfeedback

Wild Beasts - Burning by khadunio