ALBUM REVIEW

The Brooklyn/New York based five piece’s follow up to 2006’s undeniably awkward yet utterly charming self- released eponymous debut offering initially challenges its listeners .The question is ‘do the challenges outweigh the rewards?’

Prior to receiving my review copy of this much anticipated sophomore offering there had been an alarming number of hard to ignore mutterings, mainly online, from highly trusted sources that ‘Some Loud Thunder’ was far from the majestic masterpiece that many had been expecting. Still, never one to let someone else’s opinions prevent me from forming my own as well as being only too aware that more than a few of the records that I now consider to be so important had initially gone straight over my head (Animal Collective’s ‘ Feels’, Broken Social Scene’s ‘Broken Social Scene’, Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’ and indeed the band in questions, now much loved, own debut to name just a handful) it was with great interest that I slipped this seemingly controversial CD out of its, it must be said rather dull, sleeve and pushed play.

With Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev, Flaming Lips, Sparklehorse, Mogwai et al) co-producing alongside Chief CYHSY Alec Ounsworth, one could be forgiven for expecting ,or maybe even hoping for, a slightly lusher perhaps even faintly psychedelic approach this time around, but nothing could be further from the truth and from the off its evident that this ain’t no Deserters Songs. Album opener and title track ‘Some Loud Thunder’ in particular is rendered, tragically, almost un-listenable, to these ears at least, by what seems to be a complete lack of production.

In-fact, on the first few listens at least, the first four tracks went by almost unnoticed and it took the undeniably joyous recent single ‘Satan Said Dance’ to draw me back into the album which considering the fact that this track lies virtually on the half way line, figuratively speaking at least, isn’t saying much for side one.

When the hypnotic relief of the ‘never more so Talking Heads’ ‘Satan Said Dance’ finally begins its inevitable fade out it’s a genuine concern, after all, with it being the first truly outstanding offering from a band more than capable of rendering the listener speechless with their inventiveness without even breaking into a sweat it’s a worry that the album might simply return to its previous form after taking so long to drag itself out of its initial lethargy. Have no fear, after a brief (thankfully) lone accordion ‘Palate cleanser’ in the shape of ‘Upon Encountering The Crippled Elephant’ (that rare breed of song with a title that takes longer to read than listen to!) we head into a much more welcoming environment with a clear run of songs that take the edge off the initial abrasiveness of the albums opening set. ‘Arm and Hammer’, ‘Yankee Go Home’ and ‘Underwater (You and Me) in particular provide the listener with a trio of songs that instantly erase all doubts you may have had regarding where CYHSY are heading in 2007 and as the outro to Underwater (You and Me) reminds you just why you love CYHSY the album reaches its climax with the truly breath-taking ‘Five Easy Pieces’ imagine Naked era David Byrne backed by Power, Corruption and Lies era New Order covering the Cocteau Twins and your still only halfway there. A truly sublime close to an at times incredibly, frustrating album that will win you around eventually but not before its broken your heart a few times.

7/10

Paul McDonald

http://www.clapyourhandssayyeah.com/