James Mercer whines like a petulant puppy who’s rapidly approaching the un-cute stage, and you’re ready to give’m a smackdown. Then, song two is the goods.
Live, is, well, live. It has been compiled from several years of performances. It sounds like a combination of King Crimson, Frank Zappa, and John Cage.
Indie rock in that traditional, limber/humble/catchy way ala Versus and Frente!. No embellishments, just guitar/bass/drums (with some occasional violins).
Plebs hail from Norway and recorded their debut EP with Bjarte Ludvigsen (Poor Rich Ones), meaning crisp, wintery tones and haunting/serene melodies aplenty.
I definitely agree with the Faraquet comparions these guys have been getting, but This Bright Apocalypse could use some of their heroes’ vocal conviction.
Guitars soar the sky like Top Gun fighter jets, choirs “Oh” majestically, and the beats pound away like ’80s rock, rain splashing off the snare drum’n’shit.
Upbeat and poppy, like Austin Powers or ’70s David Bowie. Four out of the 13 songs are hummable enough that I find myself singing along before the song’s end.