Equally precise and off-kilter, noodly and urgent, Dutch Uncles sound remarkably confident on these portraits of uncertainty.
Given the occasion, their fourth record might have been a bells-and-whistles induction to pop’s champagne elite, but in typically moderate fashion, O Shudder is less concerned with the party booze than the kitchenware.
For the most part, admirers of the Uncles’ previous two albums will find O Shudder reassuringly familiar.
Dutch Uncles (a band I first checked out purely because my wife actually has uncles who are from The Netherlands) could have followed up their last (excellent) album with their coming out party, reaching for crossover breakout success. Instead they double down on their esoteric, cerebral, emotionally at-arm's-length geek-pop, only now with added 80s synth sounds. The whole thing sounds gorgeous, of course; unusual instrumentation and textures abound and Duncan Wallis' slinky yet shy falsetto ... read more
This is a good record, a bit monotone, but that seems to be the point. Dutch Uncles have never overdone things, and they don't on "O Shuder" either. The Songs fits nicely together, and the production is flawless.
Favorite moments: Drips, Decided Knowledge and Be Right Back.
#16 | / | Piccadilly Records |
#18 | / | The Skinny |
#62 | / | Under the Radar |