koodlet

This is a strange one to write about. I have a lot of sentimental attachment to this record; I listened to it a lot as a kid. The songs here are very catchy, and very suitable for playing to your children. It is very much a product of time, however. Released during the civil rights movement, it's an almost unnervingly earnest celebration of American folklore, in which the one black character, John Henry, famously worked himself to death, virtuous cowboys fight off Mexicans, and the only ... read more

Quite a good album, with excellent standout tracks (Prelude, Mr. Skin, Morning Will Come) mixed in with definitely of-the-time tracks (Nature's Way, Love Has Found a Way) and some interesting experiments (Space Child). They're at their best when they're rockin' though. Seems like it would be good to drop acid to.

Sure, it's "radio friendly", but catchy, well-written pop tends to do well on the radio. I mean, really, besides Hot Cha (which is another merely good, interesting, whimsical experiment), basically everything here has something ticklish, lyrics-wise and music-wise. I mean, who doesn't like a four-on-the-snare beat and lyrics about a lighthouse?

Found out about this from Anthony Fantano's review of Ants from Up There. I'm not sure this album gets the recognition it deserves.

The lo-fi-ish bare-bones production, very-old-sounding synths all really make you feel like you found some kind of artifact. There are points of genuine songwriting transcendence here. Shine a Light coaxes more out of I IV and vi chords than any other song I've heard. This Heart's on Fire reminds me of Springsteen---never a bad thing---and builds to such a ... read more