Discover America - Psychology
< author: james >
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Discover America Psychology Label: Tooth and Nail Release Date: 04/26/05 |
I understand that record reviews are most often for new CDs. And okay, so this album came out a year ago. If it happens to be a ridiculously underrated record that got little-to-no attention, shouldn’t we all be willing to hit 88 mph, go back year, and take a second (or most likely first) gander? Agreed. Okay, brief biography:
A few years back, Chris Staples quit his successful band Twothirtyeight, packed up and trekked alone from Pensacola, Florida off to musical Mecca Seattle, moved into an apartment next to some crack dealers*, turned it into an independent studio, and spent a year recording whatever the hell he wanted. This is Discover America. He did it all, from guitar, bass, drums, claves, keyboards, tambourines, organ, eggshakers, acoustics, a variety of electronic beat designs, and pretty much everything else on the disc. But trust me, you won’t be picking up a Sufjan rip-off. Chris wisely went into the writing without genre limitations and pumped out ten great songs most strongly defined by their pleasantly quirky and eclectic nature. “1986” is a catchy drivin’ song with southern twang, “One Hundredth Floor” a poppy acoustic number with kazoo solos, “Everything Changes” a gentle lounge tune borrowing heavily from elevator music, and the crowd favorite “Green Eyes” a groovy techno-laden track.
In an age when hundreds of bands can re-record The Beatles or Modest Mouse, dumb it down considerably, make it dancy and be on the cover of Spin in six months, there are few indie artists focusing more on the creative side of rock than the “Are you gonna be my girl?” side. This is one of them. Not to mention it’s just a cool CD. Psychology often finds me on a sunny day, strutting past the lemonade stands on the corner with a boom box on my shoulder while the wee salespersons can’t help but gyrate to these sweet jams (metaphorically speaking). It’s not my album of the year, but its original lyrics, walking bass lines, twangy guitar that isn’t country, and a style that tips its hat at Neil Young, Yo La Tengo, and some Flaming Lips without sacrificing originality have me hooked.
If you didn’t have the pleasure of catching Discover America at Relative back in March, I know about fifty people who can tell you how much you missed out. They drove thirteen hours from Tennessee and on 2 hours of sleep played a rockin show that set fingers snappin’, footsies groovin’, heads bobbin’, and all those other –in’ words. Plus they were some of the nicest (and goofiest) people I’ve ever met. If you weren’t privy to their awesomeness live, I can’t think of a better way to make up for your loss than to give Discover America’s “Psychology” a try. Myspace it, Relative-Theory it, and keep your head shakin’ all summer long.
* Chris Staples, however, is not a crack user. He merely shares a building with some.
