Brooklyn's Tall Firs are back with their new album Too Old to Die Young , which is the follow up to 2006's critically successful self titled work. While the band is endlessly compared to Sonic Youth, maybe partly due to being signed on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label, or possibly due to band member Aaron Mullan having worked as a sound tech for Sonic Youth, either way i just don't see it. Yes, Tall Firs are a three piece and their sound is reminiscent of the early 90's alt. genre, but the SY comparisons seem over used. If anything they remind me more of Dinosaur Jr., neither comparison of which is bad company to be associated with.
On the new album Too Old to Die Young , the band expands on it's lo-fi sound using a more expansive pallet of feedback and noise. Where it's predecessor might have been more restrained, on the new album the band shows more of it's rougher, grittier side. This is perfectly displayed on the opening track "So Messed Up", which builds into a dreamy array of swirling guitars over drummer Ryan Sawyer's frantic playing. The pensive mood is also on display on "Warriors" which showcases the band's off tempo, quiet-loud combustible sound. The album also has some of Tall Firs most radio friendly tracks, such as the infectious "Hairdo", and the reflective minded "Loveless". Some other outstanding moments have Holly Miranda from The Jealous Girlfriends appearing for a duet on the intimate brooding closer "Secrets & Lies".
Overall on Too Old to Die Young the band shows a more developed broader sound and steps up to the next level in the indie landscape. Definitely a band to keep an eye on for 2008 and beyond. You can check them out on their myspace or on their label Ecstatic Peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment