Bird Names- Metabolism: A Salute to the Energy of the Sun

A "pop" band, or so they claim (I think 'highly adept bubblegum decontructionism' is a much more apt description), the 'Names specialize in idiosyncratic musical transmissions which both embrace and explode traditional notions of playfulness and pop-structure.  They are one of my favorite bands and have been for several years.

Luckily, one thing you will never get on a Bird Names record is filler.  All of their records are jam packed with tightly composed and executed songs which usually flow together seamlessly to create a larger work.  This is actually quite a feat considering the dizzying changes and instrumentation often utilized by the band.  Imagine white jazz, twee pop, sea shantys, surf rock, western swing, afrobeat, psych, childrens music, prog rock, and vaudeville (not to mention a bunch of other unidentifiable minutia) all kind of hanging out together intermingling.  It's quite a sight, or sound I guess you would say.

      

This particular record, their newest, finds the Bird Names on an accidental spy mission in some haunted lakeside resort in 1942.  They start out amicably enough, strolling around the lake, skipping stones, staring into each others eyes; soon however a mystery presents itself and before they know it they've had their drinks drugged and are drifting with great purpose to some bizarre nucleus which holds all the answers.  Will they reach it?  Does it matter?

I'm aware that I didn't really give any actual description of the music in that last paragraph...but just calling it psychedelic pop really does not do it justice...A mind blowing record for sure.  Highly recommended for anyone who wants to hear extremely weird music without a bunch of yelling and screechy feedback!

Check it out here.