(10)
By Far the best album I've heard in a long time, and I mean a long time.
Ariel Pink's music has always been really creative and catchy as hell. But the messy lo-fi noise has kept him at cult following status. I actually read in an interview that the sound is a result of lack of funds in production and that he doesn't mean for the sound to be so lo-fi.
Now Ariel Pink is on a new label and all that has changed on "Before Today". The ever so thick cloud of lo-fi that has covered the 70's AM gold (think Bread, Todd Rundgren)of his music is finally lifted. I miss the old sound, but I really like what I hear on this album so it evens out. Now Ariel Pink can focus on making his sound as smooth and wavy as his 70's influences.
There is still a lot of spaced out strange noises, although he's no longer creating the drum sounds with his mouth and the over all sound is cleaner and not as...weird. (It really wouldn't have worked out on this one) The first single Round and Round is the smoothest song i've heard since Rundgrens Hello, It's Me. It the catchiest track of the bunch and you'll find you're self playing it over and over.
You'll play this album for the first time in strange curiosity. For those who are familiar with the earlier The Doldrums and Scared Famous, you'll wonder if it's actually Ariel Pink. Those who have never heard of Pink will be so curiously interest and hooked on the sound that you'll want to play it over again right away.Beverly Kills is a glowing funky track, Can't Hear My Eyes is warm and probably the most AM gold sounding track since authentic AM gold from the 70's. Reminiscence is a tight instrumental with an awesome bass line. And the closer Revolution's A Lie has a hint of Joy Division.
This album is great. It's funky, smooth and weird. I can't help comparing it to MGMT's new album. It's like Ariel Pink succeeded at what MGMT failed miserably to do.
Best album of 2010 so far
Sounds Like
Pure 70's am gold with a new sound
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