“Epic” is a well-worn adjective in the world of the music critic.‚ Thankfully, I’m not a critic and have every right to use their semantics.‚ So for the very first time, I’m using the term “epic” to describe a new release titled, Why There Are Mountains by the band Cymbals Eat Guitars – a wonderful four-person group out of New York.‚ Although the release garnered only modest fanfare which, frankly, is part of the appeal, the album is fantastic and sure to turn a number of heads.
The use of various sonic tricks has been utilized by numerous bands over the years in an attempt to emphasize melody.‚ Whether it is was the heavily reverbed shoe-gaze movement of My Bloody Valentine or the distortion-laden guitar riffs of Sonic Youth or the tempo shifts of the Pixies loud/quiet/loud formula, they all had the effect of utilizing contrasting, and sometimes sharp edges, to enhance the melodic content.
Enter Cymbals Eat Guitars, whose music succeeds by adapting a little of all of the aforementioned to produced sublimely layered, textured sound.‚ The tempo shifts can come so suddenly that you find yourself yanked from a false sense of complacency, only to careen upwards with dramatic screams (a la Cobain) and driving guitar riffs to create an almost vertiginous effect.‚ There are traces of distortion throughout the tracks, but in the proper doses and not so much that you lose yourself or the melodies in the dissonance.‚ One of the better comparisons for this band is The Wrens, likely for the strong focus on the melody/reverb/synth/guitar playbook.‚ But rest assured, this band’s sound and arrangements are very fresh.
The highlights are many, but let me identify a few absolute keepers for those only interested in their iPod Shuffles.‚ The third track, “Indiana” is completely mind-blowing.‚ You drift out of the preceding track and into “Indiana” with heavy distortion pedal only to break apart into light piano and acoustic guitar strums.‚ Moderate use of synthesizer and brass are also put to good effect creating one of the great songs of 2009.‚ The very next song, “Cold Spring,” has a Cure/Disintegration-styled introduction accented by strings. And finally there’s the outstanding “Wind Phoenix” that is likely to make it on many a ’09 hipster mix tape.
All in all, this is a tremendous release and indie to the core.‚ The music is wonderfully dense and a little anthemic at points.‚ I love a good surprise – that one album that takes you by the collar and shakes you clear of your senses.
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the album’s called “why there are mountains”
Good lookin’ out Taylor. I updated the post.
that would be my bad
Took me a few listens but I like this tune.
That’s a catchy tune. I’ll need to look into these guys more.
Also, I like how this post illustrates the original purpose of this blog, sharing music between friends.
This is a great song for sure, but the rest of this album is stellar. If you like this one, you will really enjoy Indiana and many of the others.