Friday, December 20, 2013

BOUND: The Albums, 2013.



an exaggerated or obsessive enthusiasm for or preoccupation with one thing. 


12/Deerhunter/Monomania

A few afternoons ago I took a few minutes to revisit the Rolling Stones' back catalog. At some point during the streaming of one of the classics - it might have been Let it Bleed or Some Girls-, the words, "man, the Stones sure were good mimics" came tumbling out of my mouth. I did not mean this as an insult. It's just that, when I went back to their long players I heard the Stones, yes, but more than anything, I heard everyone and everything else that came before them. I had realized that for the most part, these albums were expertly crafted/curated walks through (largely American) blues/country/rock & roll stances and histories. 

Initial listening sessions with Deerhunter's Monomania triggered the same reaction. I did not outright reject the album, but it was neglected for some time. And it's not like this particular stance or present surroundings were new terrain for the band. This time around I just wasn't hearing Deerhunter (that I was becoming accustomed to). 

Come to find out, this was intentional.

In the lead up to and throughout this album's release, Bradford Cox constantly spoke on wanting to reach back, span the decades -Hank, Diddley- show some love to the blues, burnt country, and bare rock and roll that came before him. A simple task, difficult to execute. Quick to get a cry of "mimic". Until you go back and give Monomania another spin. And another. And another, and realize that sometimes (as was the case with the Stones before them, yes) when executed properly and given the right amount of dedication, influences can be honored and provide inspiration without holding a smothering presence over a band. At the end of the day, this music's all Deerhunter. "avant-garde rock & roll" at its finest in a packed year of many looking back to push things forward.
KEY TRACKS: T.H.M./Sleepwalking/Monomania 


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)