Even if an abundance of programming tools are on hand, all the delectable qualities that defined the band since their beginnings are still intact.
The songs may sound more conventional, but they're no less complex. The music is hard-wired and overflowing with activity, even in the record's sparsest moments.
The tropical warmth of Skeleton has now been replaced by a harder, darker, chillier core. Where words can be made out over the rich (sometimes over-layered) production, references appear to be to "ghosts", "black holes", "lives unknown", all this matching the generally angst-ridden and sometimes flat-out anguished tone of the vocal.
The problem here is that, while Abe Vigoda have done a great job nailing their stylistic transition, the new direction has brought them a lot closer to a sound which, for me, is far less fresh and innovative than what they were doing on Skeleton.
While The Songs Are Hit Or Miss Crush Is A Not A Bad One From Abe Vigoda The Songs Have A Nice Rock On Them It's Not Bad While It's A Bit Good It Does Not Have To Be Abe Vidoda But Not A Bad One
#18 | / | Stereogum |
#40 | / | Pitchfork |
#41 | / | No Ripcord |