Ume
Urgent
Sea (2005, Pretty Activity)
Some
noise can be hostile.
The
amazing artist Jenny Holzer wrote a Truism that said: 'Noise can
be hostile'. I agree. Lots of noises are hostile to me: hearing
construction work outside of my window, a fire engine’s loud
siren blasting through the streets, or even if my car makes a sound
that it shouldn’t make. They all contribute to my list of
hostility. Sometimes listening to different kinds of music makes
me hostile. I am bound to encounter music that just doesn't suit
my musical taste. Sometimes its too mellow, too repetitive, too
boring, too generic sounding. Thus, I
become annoyed and hostile, my ADD kicks in, and I usually turn
the music off.
So
upon listening to Ume’s new album, Urgent Sea, I
was full of doubt. I had yet to hear of a band named Ume before.
I had no idea what style of music they play. But to my lovely surprise,
I really like Urgent Sea. Its raw, full of spunk and take
your breath away effort. Ume has haunting and delicate vocals delivered
by Lauren and Eric Larson. This trio named Ume makes rock and roll
that is fresh and exciting.
The
band’s genetic make-up is a little shoegaze, garage rock,
noise band and experimental rock, all mixed up into one. Sometimes
when I listen to noise bands they sound so disjointed from a regular
rhythmic beat that it turns me off. On the contrary, Urgent Sea
pulls the free noise into a comprehensive musical synergy. The hard
hitting drum beats, solid guitar lines, and of course the vocals
place perfectly together.
Urgent
Sea isn’t a album with one or two good songs on it. I
could choose any song off the album and enjoy listening to it for
the rest of the day. There isn’t one filler song on Urgent
Sea. The whole album packs a punch of energy to ones ears.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say this album pushes any boundaries
or changes the history of music in these latter days. Though while
we wait for the next band that changes musical history, we have
great bands like Ume, who keeps the foundation of rock n’
roll plastered together.
-Ayn
5/17/05
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