Word: band
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...Quarantine the Past” should be granted a certain degree of forgiveness; many of the songs do in fact define the band and speak for themselves. It’s difficult to argue with the sun-kissed slow burn of “Summer Babe [Winter Version],” the Stone Temple Pilots jokes in twangy road jam “Range Life,” or the eerie, escalating guitar solos in “Grounded.” But once Malkmus and co. move past the singles into less obvious selections, they prove misguided, opting...
...embody what seems to be the LP’s primary purpose. “Bricks” seeks to remain true to TL/Rx’s punk roots and commitment to a diverse range of musical genres, while experimenting with the style that has elevated the band into the indie rock consciousness. The album is thus built on the same foundation as all of its predecessors—smart lyrics layered on gratifying hooks—a formula that, if not flawed, has at least become predictable. When the group does attempt to diverge from the prescribed...
...band reveals a brilliant glimmer of versatility on “One Polaroid A Day,” which establishes its place amongst the loveliest songs TL/Rx have produced. Leo exchanges falsetto for throaty, deep musings that complement the subdued nature of this track. With an understated drumbeat and strumming bass, “Polaroid” is far from succumbing to muteness or timidity. Instead, the song is a subtly crafted gem, whose force lies in the band’s ability to augment a knack for a catchy beat with a heretofore rarely seen phenomenon?...
...sometimes self-loathing, enthusiasm for their roots. On “Theme From ‘Cheers,’” this irreverence takes the form of a drinking song dealing with youthful drowning of sorrows and building of friendships with alcohol and cigarettes. Other times, the band deals with their inability to escape personal repugnance, such as when they chant the mantra of “You will always be a loser” in “No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future...
...album encounters—“This is a war we can’t win / After 10,000 years it’s still us against them.” The song slowly crescendos into a restrained chorus followed by a battered-sounding yet triumphant brass band and an exultant guitar solo, as Sickles continues to scream “It’s still us against them.” Even when the aggression of the music is reduced, the forcefulness of the lyrical narrative remains...