Quick Review: Gold-Bears - Are You Falling In Love?

Gold-Bears: Are You Falling In Love? (2011, Slumberland Records)

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Nostalgia is a funny thing.

So what does it mean when the debut album from Atlanta based Gold-Bears made me seek out and listen to Sunny Day Real Estate's 1994 emo masterpiece Diary? Although they only share the basics of a musical style, they share a very emotional tone. Even though Are You Falling In Love? was released in 2011, it feels like an album that fits more precisely somewhere between the years of 1993 and 1995. Right down to the nearly unsubtle feelings of loss and emotional distance.

There's no mistaking that this is a break-up album. It's pretty obvious just from reading the title of the album. But I do have a soft spot for these types of albums. Even if the emotions are stunted, unsubtle, and obvious, at least they are there. The album rarely strays from these themes, which hinders it slightly, as there is really no letting up from the bleak songwriting. The album also has a very predictable sounds structure as well. Most songs plod along with a listless rhythm, with plenty of distortion mixed in. There are some upbeat songs, such as the second track "All Those Years", which would be interesting if it wasn't for the doo-woppish "ba ba ba da"s. Even if they are pretty early 90's, I hated them in the music of that decade and I certainly don't enjoy them now. Sadly, one of the more interesting and fast paced songs, "In This City, I'm Invincible", is only close to a minute and a half long. It tells the story of the moment the narrator breaks up with his significant other, and the rushed feel of the song does give it a sense of confusion. And there is a female guest vocalist! I love that shit! Other than that, the songs are mostly only differentiated by the lyrics and some kind of different musical addition, mostly distortion of some sort.

Reading this, you probably think I don't like this album. Like I said, nostalgia is a funny thing. While far from perfect, Are You Falling In Love? is an album that doesn't try to be anything it isn't, and has a very honest emotional core. Sometimes that and the feeling you get from all those old emo bands like Sunny Day Real Estate is enough to get you to gloss over some pretty glaring weaknesses.

"Remember that time in 1993, that song made you weep. How could she be so mean to the boy that loved her. Remember that night in 1995, well I guess I felt alright. Your tiny hand in mine, just before our last fight."

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ACTUAL LYRICS! I'm convinced this album came out at least 18 years too late.

Final Score: 7.4/10 and I hope y'all find a time machine.

Album Review: Okkervil River - I Am Very Far

Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (2011, JagJaguar)

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"The goal was to push my brain to places it didn't want to go. The idea was to not have any idea – to keep myself confused about what I was doing,"

Will Sheff is one of the greatest modern songwriters. More a poet than a lyricist. But Okkervil River as a whole has undergone some interesting changes in the years leading up to I Am Very Far. At this point the only original member of the band is Mr. Sheff himself. Gone are Bassist Zach Thomas, Drummer Seth Warren, and pianist Jon Meiburg. And even members that have been around since their seminal work, Black Sheep Boy, are mostly gone and replaced. While this new version of Okkervil River may look strange to long time listeners, it has always been Will Sheff running the show, and as long as Will Sheff is here, Okkervil River will exist in some form.

Will Sheff insists that I Am Very Far is a standalone album, unlike their last three albums, each of which can be considered concept albums, with their own main themes. The Black Sheep Boy narrative on the album of the same name. The perils and triumphs of stardom on The Stage Names. The emotional toll of the inability to gain recognition as an artist on The Stand-ins. The problem with Okkervil River now making an album of relatively standalone songs is that Will Sheff is such a great songwriter that his skills are almost wasted without a main theme. It's almost as if a great novelist, instead of releasing another great novel, has decided to release a collection of short stories. While they are still enjoyable by themselves, it leaves the reader (or in this case the listener) wanting more.

Track 1: The Valley
While I enjoy to marauding drums, that is really the only redeemable part of this song. Strangely lazy songwriting and lyricism. There are other bands where I would appreciate the repetition in this song, but it's not something that Okkervil has really utilized in their career. I'm surprised that this song even made the album let alone led it off.
Verdict: 5/10


Track 2: Piratess
Although this song has much better lyrics, it suffers from similar problems as "The Valley". It seems to mostly just plod along, With Mr. Sheff's storytelling being the only thing keeping it afloat. it does earns some points back with some interesting breaks and sound mixes near the end.
Verdict: 6/10