An Awesome Wave by Alt-J

alt-J’s An Awesome Wave

By: Miranda Feinberg Managing Editor

I am way too indecisive and self conscious to tout any one album as my favorite, or as my version of perfection or the ever elusive “best.” So, fair warning, I’m not quite sure I would consider this album my favorite. However, alt-J’s debut album An Awesome Wave is definitely one of the most effective, cohesive and artful albums I’ve heard. The songs are so woody and granular yet they flow together so smoothly, like some robotic, nonhuman yet innately natural collection. I think that the gibberish pronunciations of each lyric are so fun and enticing and, combined with the layered and choral harmonies, sound so weird and beautiful. The combined synths and guitars and percussive drums and piano all work so well together and so uniquely across each track. For me at least, it is one of those rare albums that fits your mood. The entire collective album is somehow both energetic and calming, some psychological one-size-fits-all. No one song is skippable to me. It is so beautifully odd and a little off.

songs to check out: Breezeblocks Tessellate Taro Dissolve Me Fitzpleasure