Jedi Mind Tricks | Violence Begets Violence

CD Reviews

Atlas Sound | Parallax

4AD (2011)

By JONATHAN DONALDSON | November 9, 2011

2.5 Stars

If 4AD were to send a memo to Bradford Cox saying "not so much reverb" and "please write more than two-chord vamps," he'd be screwed. The truth is that Cox would probably try and submit tracks anyway, lost in the futility of his own habits. But why should we begrudge him? Predictable or not, the compulsive mind behind Atlas Sound and Deerhunter has something that he is extremely good at. Take a look at the cover of Parallax and it's clear he's in on the fun. As the not-typically-dreamy Cox holds a vintage microphone close to his face in a star-lit pose, we almost see the visage of a late-'50s Ricky Nelson or maybe even patron-geek Buddy Holly. The singer may be reminding us that the church of rock and roll was built in the same valley that Atlas Sound dwells in today. As Cox's voice croaks and whispers on "Modern Aquatic," his words pad aimlessly along the song's corridors. Like Spiritualized before him, Cox finds a certain horse sense in twisting and looping early rock tropes. Yet even when relying less on atmospheric synths and playing with a full-band set up ("The Shakes"), Parallax misses early rock's tautness and grit. At its weakest and strongest (such as on the soothing, Gabriel-esque "Te Amo"), the Atlas Sound is a very watery one.

Off the record?
Pity the album. After a half-century of embarrassingly public body issues, our essential rock unit has not entered the new millennium looking very healthy. EPs are way more in vogue, MP3s have intangibility on their side, and 12-inches just sound impressive.
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The notion that regional musical flavors exist independently in American cities is quickly becoming an archaic truism, seeing as how the world really is a stage these days, at least in the digital sense.
Bearstronaut | Broken Handclaps
There's a distinct absence of wildlife or astronauts on Lowell electronica quartet Bearstronaut's latest release.
Avi Buffalo | Avi Buffalo
Look, I get it: the last thing we need right now is yet another band who can be described as “sun-baked,” “reverb-soaked,” or even just “psychedelic.” But Avi Buffalo (I know! An animal name to boot!) are worth your attention for a few reasons.
Review: Brandon Flowers | Flamingo
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Casa Nueva Industries (2010)
Review: Crocodiles | Sleep Forever
With remarkable swiftness, Crocodiles tick off all the key characteristics of a band in the thriving lo-fi indie/punk/garage scene.
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