∆ Alt J: This Is All Yours ∆
Alright, avid indie listeners are talking. I think I can speak for all of us and conclude that Alt-J’s new album This Is All Yours is worth a listen, or 2, or 25. For anyone who’s never heard of alt-j, they’re primarily an indie rock band, but to be honest, Alt-J has definitely created their own genre within the indie/folk community. This may sound ridiculous, but you could almost describe the album’s entirety as a satisfying meal. The first song in the album is “Intro,” which builds into a choral set of “lalas” and then floods into a grandiose of percussion. This intro undoubtedly sets the rest of the album to a more controlled, mature, and rhythmic sound compared to their older music like “Fitzpleasure” or “Breezeblocks,” which have a more rough and brittle sound. Personally my favorites from this album are “Nara,” “The Gospel of John Hurt,” and “Hunger Of The Pine.” But if we are talking about favorites, it would be sinful not to mention the song “Taro.” From its mandolin riffs produced solely off an electric guitar to the compelling back-story within the lyrics, this song in particular changed my interpretation of music. I honestly have never felt so sexually attached to a song in my entire life. Newer listeners to Alt-J may be put off by lead singer Joe Newman’s oboe-sounding voice, but then again, it can be easily debated that Alt-J is the pioneer of music for generations to come.
Nikki Brown