2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Rats, rock and redheads: The Beacon picks '07's Best
Nate Heskia, Ben Collins, Harry Vaughn, Nick McCarthy
Issue date: 12/13/07 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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Nate Heskia:
1. Stars of the Lid, And Their Refinement of the Decline
Putting their current projects aside, Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride got together to follow up 2001's The Tired Sounds Of…, and on this release they use a more minimal approach to create even more of an effect on the senses than in their previous releases. And Their Refinement of the Decline clocks in at just about two hours and is a precise work of wonderfully layered elements including strings, trumpet, flugelhorn, clarinet, harp and a children's choir.
It's a release that, like much of their later work, blurs the lines between modern classical and ambient drone. It's as hopeful as it is sorrowful; as much music as it is sound. While the tracks on this album may be slow in movement, it's an effect that adds to their extremely affecting, poignant nature. These soundscapes and stimulate your visual imagination in a way most music fails to evoke. Stars of the Lid's work exemplifies interesting paradox within the ambient genre: while their music is perfectly cinematic, and could work well in the background of a film or a rainy afternoon, there are just too many beautiful things going on in And Their Refinement of the Decline to turn your attention elsewhere.
2. Maserati,
Inventions for the New Season
A lot has changed since Maserati's last album,2002's The Language of Cities. Their previous drummer, Phil Horan, has been replaced by Jerry Fuchs of Brooklyn-based !!! (pronounced Chk Chk Chk) and they seem to be taking a step even further back-past bands like Tortoise into the realm of Pink Floyd, Ash Ra Tempel and Neu! The result is a unique album that explores the cosmic universe of psychedelic and progressive rock, yet has enough rhythm to make you move, and enough power to throw you off the dance floor. Just when the opening track, "Invention," seems like it will end with it's bouncing, ping-pong delay notes, Fuchs comes in with the same type of disco-like beat he might use in !!! to turn this track--and really the rest of this album-into a 46- minute psychedelic dance hit.
1. Stars of the Lid, And Their Refinement of the Decline
Putting their current projects aside, Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride got together to follow up 2001's The Tired Sounds Of…, and on this release they use a more minimal approach to create even more of an effect on the senses than in their previous releases. And Their Refinement of the Decline clocks in at just about two hours and is a precise work of wonderfully layered elements including strings, trumpet, flugelhorn, clarinet, harp and a children's choir.
It's a release that, like much of their later work, blurs the lines between modern classical and ambient drone. It's as hopeful as it is sorrowful; as much music as it is sound. While the tracks on this album may be slow in movement, it's an effect that adds to their extremely affecting, poignant nature. These soundscapes and stimulate your visual imagination in a way most music fails to evoke. Stars of the Lid's work exemplifies interesting paradox within the ambient genre: while their music is perfectly cinematic, and could work well in the background of a film or a rainy afternoon, there are just too many beautiful things going on in And Their Refinement of the Decline to turn your attention elsewhere.
2. Maserati,
Inventions for the New Season
A lot has changed since Maserati's last album,2002's The Language of Cities. Their previous drummer, Phil Horan, has been replaced by Jerry Fuchs of Brooklyn-based !!! (pronounced Chk Chk Chk) and they seem to be taking a step even further back-past bands like Tortoise into the realm of Pink Floyd, Ash Ra Tempel and Neu! The result is a unique album that explores the cosmic universe of psychedelic and progressive rock, yet has enough rhythm to make you move, and enough power to throw you off the dance floor. Just when the opening track, "Invention," seems like it will end with it's bouncing, ping-pong delay notes, Fuchs comes in with the same type of disco-like beat he might use in !!! to turn this track--and really the rest of this album-into a 46- minute psychedelic dance hit.
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