Armored
Frog
Weasel
On A Weathervane (2005, Sleepsound)
Armored
Frog is essentially Eugene, Oregon's George Ayres and Jake Baker.
It seems fitting that these two come from Oregon because this album
definitely has all the feel of an overcast afternoon in the Pacific
Northwest (coffee is credited four times with inspiring this album
in the cd's liner notes). This is the band's first full-length in
their five year existence, following 2004's Ghost Cow EP,
and it finds them adding instrumentalists and back-up vocalists,
Molly Templeton, Elliot Hartlerode and Erin Cadigan to flesh out
their sound.
If
I had to proffer a (half-assed) point of reference, it would be
like a cross between Deserter's Songs Mercury Rev (minus
the orchestral feel) and Grandaddy (sans the pop penchant). Similiar
to the latter, they have a knack for a seamless meshing of organic
and synthesized sounds, while the Mercury Rev comparison is moreso
in the vocal style and feel. Bear in mind that I did say 'half-assed
point of reference'.
Lyrically,
Ayres spends most of his time conjuring the depressing side of the
human condition. The band's Sleepsound bio humorously cites him
for 'pseudo-sensuality'. It's really the tone and tempo of the music
that gives you the 'depressed' vibe more than any hackneyed woe-is-me
lyricism. A prime example would be the beautifully sad 'Boxed Pete',
with it's repetition of "wasting the whole day, waiting
for it to rain. it's raining on us again". With that being
said, it's not all gloom and mope. Most of the slower tracks end
up on higher notes than they began on, such as 'Don't Hold Your
Breath'. The trumpet-led 'Snake in the Grass' finds the band at
their catchiest best. That track and the slower 'In a Boathouse
at Noon' stand out as the album's defining statements. The closer
'Two Hundred Cubits Later' is definitely worth mentioning as well,
with it's fatally aware chant of "we're all alike, we all
die" coupled with an instrumental build-up to a satisfying
crescendo.
After
it's all said and done, Weasel On A Weathervane stands
as an album showcasing a modest band with some big ideas. In less
capable hands, having too many ideas could ruin songs, but there's
never a moment here that sounds forced or disjointed. You get the
feeling that nothing is ever incorporated (or removed) just for
the sake of experimentation, and that crafting a great song is their
main concern. At times you'll hear something catchy like a melody,
drum pattern, or synthesized sound that you'll intrinsically latch
onto, only to have it quickly dissipate. Believe me, it's not a
bad thing. It's almost as if every element that you hear is a vital
song component, but once it has served it's purpose, it's time to
move on. I find myself appreciating the fact that they don't feel
compelled to beat you over the head repeatedly with each clever
idea they can come up with. It's because of their approach that,
through repeated listens, the songs have a welcomed, familiar sound,
rather than a tiresome one. Armored Frog have quietly made a highly
enjoyable album, here's to hoping that they aren't flying under
the radar for too much longer. This one deserves your attention.
mp3:
Significant Figurines
-avant
gardening 11/14/05
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