Some Loud Thunder... Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's new album

[The Actual]

Wow, I just got this yesterday from the insound preorder download deal, and really like it. I have to admit I've only been listening to the first three songs over and over (again... ha), but it is much better than I had allowed myself to hope for.

Anyone else heard this yet? It might be better than their first album.

 

[GeekMoses]

I haven't heard it yet, but I did pre-order it. It's encouraging to think this might be better than the first album. I'll just have to wait and see.

 

[libertine]

Good to hear that your liking it, will for sure be picking this up. January looks like a good month for indie records (the view, field music, Jamie T, shins).

 

[DesmondDavidH]

I still have to assimilate this album better, but from what I've heard is not good as the first one (which was a very very good one).

 

[sebastian589]

Unfortunately I have to agree with Desmond here. I like it, there are some real beauties, but certain parts keep the engine from roaring. I feel the Sylus review sums this album up pretty well. The band has a lot of good songs and ideas packed on this album, but pressure caused them to try things they wouldn't have tried if the debut album had sold 20,000 copies instead of 100,000. To me hype always overcomes the better of a band ( see the new Shins album for this as well), for some reason music must become prophetic to become loved and accepted. As well as being fun and catchy it needs to be couth yet not concieted. There have to be songs that extoll love and happiness, disect confusion or sadness, and inspire action. Getting a great mix of toe tapping beats and pleasant melodies is good for a debut, but never enough for a career. The first album was perfectly balanced, alot of fun in the sun, some inspection with inflection and a whole lot of great music. The debut was natural and fun, this second album feels crushed by expectation, pressure and anxiety.

I like it, but I don't love it, therefore I feel a step down from their debut.

 

[umcloud]

I listened to this album in its entirety for the first time today, and I must say I am extremely disappointed. It begins with a lot of promise - the title track retains the energy of their debut while sounding like a genuine progression in style. The second track, with its gritty, lo-fi production, recalls GBV at its finest and, while not in the the same league as the highlights of their debut, made me excited to dig deeper into the album.

And what I found was ... filler. 8 Tracks of filler. Only one other song, 'Satan Said Dance', can even begin to compete with the quality of material found on their first album. Every other song is meandering and lacking in melodic direction - basically it's boring. I feel that they rushed this album out by recording the first 9 songs they could write, padding it with 90-second instrumentals, and hoping they could futz around in the studio to provide a sense of 'development' and 'growth'.

My apologies if you feel I'm being overly harsh, I'm just saddened to see a band with so much potential fall victim to the sophomore album curse. Here's hoping they can pull it around with their next release - and please God, let Neon Bible be good, or else we'll have to find a whole new bunch of indie heroes this year.

 

[DesmondDavidH]

Well this album is not good as the first one, we all agree with this. But I suggest you to give a try, I'm sure you will find at least a couple of gems, like "Goodbye to the Mother and the Cove" to say one.

 

[GeekMoses]

Here is my question: Are tracks 1 and 8 supposed to clip like crazy? I mean, is this intended, or do I have a bad copy?

Edit: Found the answer to my own question. From Pitchfork:
"Some Loud Thunder" seems like a solid, peppy indie rock song, but it's such a mess that it's hard to tell for sure-- pickled in ugly distortion, it sounds like a bad rip. (Ounsworth claims the album is intended to be heard on vinyl; perhaps it works better there.) As a mission statement and a ****-off, "Some Loud Thunder" is even more effective than "Clap Your Hands!": The latter was obviously intended to be daunting, while the former is rich with ambiguity. Was it meant to sound ****** or did it just turn out that way? Regardless, it's a drag to listen to.