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::k4:
a r t i s t :: Wye Oak
t i t l e :: Shriek
d a t e :: 2014-00-00
l a b e l :: City Slang
g e n r e :: Indie
s o u r c e :: CD
b i t r a t e :: 241 kbps avg
e n c o d e r :: LAME 3.98.4 -V 0
t r a c k s :: 10
p l a y t i m e :: 41:30
s i z e :: 72.31MB
tracklist
1 Before 4:19
2 Shriek 3:39
3 The Tower 4:06
4 Glory 4:53
5 Sick Talk 4:25
6 Schools Of Eyes 4:14
7 Despicable Animal 4:50
8 Paradise 4:21
9 I Know The Law 3:44
10 Logic Of Color 2:59
releasenotes
Jenn Wasner was a little worried about reinventing herself on Wye OakÆs fourth
album, Shriek. "There is more at stake than whether my feelings get hurt or
not," she said in an interview earlier this year, addressing how fans would
receive the Baltimore/Portland-based duoÆs decision to replace her guitar with
synthesizers. "We've been touring in this band, making a living off of it
since Civilian, and we are very fortunate that that has been the case, but
we're both very aware that it could totally go away.ö
She had some reason to be concerned. Wye Oak has been beloved, especially
since 2011's excellent Civilian, for the charged interplay between WasnerÆs
formidable axe-wielding and band mate Andy StackÆs immense, intense drumming.
Up until that point, the singer had kept her love of the instrumental and
structural aspects of pop and R&B sequestered from her main outfit, seeking
other artistic outlets in dancefloor-ready odes to Robyn as Flock of Dimes and
last yearÆs gauzy, Mariah Carey-indebted bauble Dungeonesse, the self-titled
album she wrote with Baltimore-based musical polymath Jon Ehrens.
While Flock of Dimes had been ongoing to an extent, Wasner started Dungeonesse
to escape a creative funk she had fallen into following Wye OakÆs constant
touring behind Civilian. After Stack moved from the East Coast to Portland,
she stared down another mental block, this time specifically around the
guitar, before realizing she could just hang up the damn thing and make music
inspired by her first musical loves as a child of the '90s. ThatÆs when Wasner
ôsort of fell to the ground in relief and excitement.ö
ThatÆs also where the album begins. After a light pitter-patter of synths like
raindrops on her bedroom window, Wasner sings, ôThis morning, I woke up on the
floor, thinking æI have never dreamed before.Æö This chimerical quality
suffuses Shriek, as if Wasner still canÆt believe she can make the kind of
music she has always loved without shunting it into a side project for fear of
sacrificing Wye OakÆs identity. But donÆt let the soft lighting fool you:
WasnerÆs bass (Stack now handles melody in addition to keys and percussion)
reverberates with nearly the same tension as her six-string, fortifying songs
like ôThe Towerö and ôGloryö with a stiff, funky backbone. Even though the
latterÆs synthesizer solo leaves something to be desired after Wye OakÆs
guitar freak outsùnothing on Shriek sends all-over chills quite like The
KnotÆs ôFor Prayerö or equally bruising "Take It In"ùWasnerÆs instrument
carves a viscerally satisfying groove into the air.
Her voice also takes up more space on this record, going deeper and flitting
over StackÆs melodies with such abandon itÆs as if she might float away.
Comparatively, her vocals on Wye OakÆs earlier material come out wispy and
flat, crunched by the massive noises emitting from her guitar. Even on
ôParadiseö, with its familiar squalls of feedback in the background and
pummeling drums, she sings more confidently and with a broader range.
That specific song makes me long for the old Wye Oak, actually, like thinking
you see an old friend on the street that turns out to be a total stranger.
Even though no band owes their audience music they donÆt want to make anymore,
itÆs still a little sad reading Wasner in 2009 talk about how much she needs
her guitar. ôI know itÆs cliche,ö she said, ôbut I love it. I would go crazy
without it.ö Many fans will probably feel the same wayùI doubt their new live
setup will wrench me apart with the same visceral impact as their Civilian
tourùbut even the most steadfast relationships change, and itÆs clear Wasner
has moved on. As she should: the way she was feeling, if the next Wye Oak
album were made the same as the last, it wouldn't sound as effortless, and she
wouldn't sound as sure of herself. So we'll have to get used to it, and while
we're at it, maybe we can enjoy ourselves as much as she did.
wyeoakmusic.com
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Wye_Oak-Shriek-(SLANG50061)-CD-2014-k4