DougW. 
Cibbuano
Easy Anthems - S/T
November 10th 2006 14:29
With such an exceptional duo as this, it is natural to wonder where their interesting dynamic emenates from. Many other married couples with or without children exist in the world of alt-rock, look no further than Low and Yo La Tengo, but Easy Anthems have something they do not - friction. It's (hopefully) not anything that will tear the apart, but the opposition of Phil and Vanessa Jimenez is completely compulsive. The way he almost shouts underneath her soft cooing as if undermining the tenderness she brings is devastatingly interesting to hear on 'BB Shooting'. This quiet tension runs through the whole record like blood.
Instrumentally, Easy Anthems have a rare sophistication that belies the simplicity of the songs' appearance. Listen to the wonderfully intricate string arrangements that grace most of the tracks. Particular kudos goes to the soaring violin note that slices into your ears in conjunction with Vanessa's 'aaah'-ing on 'Go Back To Pittsurgh', for it is akin to having someone blow a jet of cold water into your face. With a fire hose. The subtle intelligence of the taut bounces littered throughout their debut is wholly reminiscent of Yo La Tengo's poppier shades, and its no bad thing. The sweetness is certainly counterbalanced by the slightly sinister sentiments batted around the place, again, making this record monumentally entertaining.
With quality and attention to detail in such massive quantites over a mere thirty-six minutes, it's difficult to see where Easy Anthems could have squeezed any more veiled sweetness into this record. Simply, it is the sound of a complex relationship told with sensitivity, vigour, animation and emotional clout to rival any of their pseudo-folk-Americana contemporaries.
Go here and here for sounds and downloads and purchases and all that.
Instrumentally, Easy Anthems have a rare sophistication that belies the simplicity of the songs' appearance. Listen to the wonderfully intricate string arrangements that grace most of the tracks. Particular kudos goes to the soaring violin note that slices into your ears in conjunction with Vanessa's 'aaah'-ing on 'Go Back To Pittsurgh', for it is akin to having someone blow a jet of cold water into your face. With a fire hose. The subtle intelligence of the taut bounces littered throughout their debut is wholly reminiscent of Yo La Tengo's poppier shades, and its no bad thing. The sweetness is certainly counterbalanced by the slightly sinister sentiments batted around the place, again, making this record monumentally entertaining.
With quality and attention to detail in such massive quantites over a mere thirty-six minutes, it's difficult to see where Easy Anthems could have squeezed any more veiled sweetness into this record. Simply, it is the sound of a complex relationship told with sensitivity, vigour, animation and emotional clout to rival any of their pseudo-folk-Americana contemporaries.
Go here and here for sounds and downloads and purchases and all that.
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