Released: April 7, 2014 on Domino Recording Company
Genre: Indie rock, Experimental
Before you read this review, I must warn you. This album is unlike anything that you have ever listened to before. This genre might be completely foreign to your ears, but don’t dismiss this album based solely on its electronic, indie, slasher-flick-inspired genre. If you give it a fair chance, you might just fall in love with at least one song on this bold LP.
Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks, a trio from Los Angeles, CA, was formed by Animal Collective front-man David Porter (Avey Tare) as a project to help him depart from his musical past and infuse more creativity into this music. With a fun track, inspired by horror films, Avey Tare and his band largely succeed.
Because this album is different from almost anything out there, I’m going to split the review into three sections: Approachable, Adventurous , and Too Out There.
Approachable:
“Little Fang”– The tale of a man telling a young monster to accept its true nature, “Little Fang” offers a surprisingly deep lesson- to accept yourself for who you are. In addition, the acoustic guitar and ambient sounds in this track set it apart from the entire album.
“Duplex Trip”– This playful track feels like an ambient room filled with good times. It’s electronic elements never cause it to become too convoluted.
“Strange Colors”– This rock song about different colors feels fresh, bold, and exciting. I’m definitely going to be listening to this song in my car on my drive to Jesuit.
Adventurous:
“A Sender”– The initial 80’s-inspired synthesizer effects hold you interest. Then, the drums and vocals kick in and ease you into the album.
“Catchy (Was Contagious)”– The drums in this song, one of the best on the album, help to add an almost world music beat into the song. The constantly changing vocals always held my interest.
“The Outlaw”– This song remains in the adventurous category, but it isn’t the strongest song on the LP. It doesn’t feel like it has anything to distinguish it from other songs.
“Modern Days E”– This song has a lot going on, but it manages to keep it all in check and make it work. The range in the carefree vocals help to make this sound like a great summer song.
“Your Card”– The drum sticks banging on the rims of the drum kit in the beginning of the song suck you in. Then, at about a minute and twenty-five seconds, the song transitions into something truly great. At about the halfway mark, the song changes into a smoother track, worthy of being called an album closer.
“Blind Babe”– The rhythmic drums, slick synth, and fast vocals help to infuse energy an element of fun into the song. It sounds like a very electronic, rock song.
Too Out There:
“That It Won’t Grow”– The initial synth notes are too strong. This is the weakest track in terms of lyrics. This song isn’t terrible, but the track might throw some listeners off.
“Roses on the Window”– And now we arrive at the strangest song in the group. If the listener doesn’t frequently listen to electronic music, the slow speed of this track can detract from the listening experience. The individual sounds don’t always work with the slow tempo.
The Verdict:
Overall, I loved listening to this album. It was fun and unique. I loved almost every song on this album, but I understand that other people have different musical tastes. If you love electronic indie-rock, give the entire album a try, but if you aren’t normally an indie fan, take a look at the lists below.
What you should give a try: “A Sender”, “Duplex Trip”, “Blind Babe”, “Little Fang”, “Catchy (Was Contagious)”, “Modern Days E”, “Strange Colors”, and “Your Card”
What you might want to steer clear of: “It Won’t Grow”, “The Outlaw”, and “Roses on the Window”
Score Range: 7-8
