Music Reviews
By the people, for the people
Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes - Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke frequently positions himself as a sentinel for human-technology interaction. He is consistently blending synthetic and non-synthetic sounds in interesting ways, both in Radiohead and in his solo projects. 2006’s The Eraser was Yorke’s chance to explore it further, embracing laptop glitch and laptop breakbeats to their logical conclusion. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes feels like a spiritual successor to The Eraser, offering a similarly solitary and brooding Yorke. The out-oftune piano in “Pink Section” sounds like it could have been lifted from The Eraser’s title track. This isn’t always good: the first few tracks sound like dated versions of overly Yorke-heavy Radiohead songs, with trademark glitch and gloom. Overall, though, this record is a modern one, with nods to the assemblage of sounds in 2014, incorporating wet and dub-like drums and tonal swells that are reminiscent of Four Tet and Arca. The only critique I would have is that most of the songs are essentially orbiting the same idea. For this reason, some of the songs feel like sketches in Yorke’s computer, not a commercial product. This is not all true, though: “There Is No Ice (For My Drink)” is a 7-minute head-trip, and transitions beautifully into “Pink Section.” If you’re already familiar with Thom Yorke, you probably already know whether or not this album is for you. For those who have never given Radiohead or Thom Yorke a chance and are looking to embrace their inner isolation and megalomania, this brief record is worth checking out. 4/5 Yorke croons. -Ben Wedin
Origins - Eluveitie Ok, so if you haven’t ever heard my shameless plug for this band, here it is: ELUVEITIE ARE SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED AND INTERESTING MUSICIANS COMING OUT OF EUROPE RIGHT NOW! FUCKING LISTEN TO THEM. 9-piece band, folk instruments backed by guitars, base and drums, sick alternations between full and half time, beautiful female backup singer, what more could you ask for out of your music? Now let’s talk their new album. “Origins” is definitely a step up from their underwhelming last endeavor, “Helvetios.” “Helvetios” was supposed to be a rock opera kind of thing talking about how the Helvetii tribe were kicked out of modern day Switzerland and obliterated by the Romans (folk instruments, folk tales, get the picture?). Where as that album was flat and uninteresting musically, this one is diverse and complex. It still has some of those “storytelling elements,” but these are better interspersed amongst excellent straight up rockin’ tunes. Highlights from the album are “The Nameless” (although they miss an obvious opportunity to get listeners bumpin’), “Call of the Mountains,” and “King”. Of these, King is my favorite because of the complex alternation of tin whistle, goat bagpipe, and guitar solos in the closing minute of the song. But overall, each of the songs acts like a flushed-out story in itself. If you are looking for something new in your life, like a little head banging, but are also curious about the cultural history of one of the most complex regions in Europe, this is an excellent album. They will never top their 2007 masterpiece “Slania,” but this is their best effort since. Check it out. -Henry Southwick 6
