Did you know they have a Grammy for album packaging? It is true, in fact the “crafts” section includes such gems as “Best Historical Album,” “Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package,” “Best Album Notes,” and “Best Recording Package.” In case you were wondering, “Best Historical Album” is an aware for the quality of packaging on the re-issue of an old album. Paul McCartney won this year for the re-issue of “Band on the Run.” I’m not sure, but I don’t think he had to beat up Rihanna to get it, which makes it a bit more legitimate than the R&B award.
So I kind of think that’s crazy. That they have awards for packaging and liner notes. I mean, that should be a design award, really. Though it is super important. And the designers work really hard and they should get recognition. And packaging is a key part of the listening experience for me. And I love reviewing the packaging. But cumon.
I guess I hate this because this is the Grammys, the award show that represents everything backwards and stupid about the recording industry. It defines shallowness and pointless glorification of those who are already past their primes. And also because it means that not only am I not the only person in the world quirky enough to care to pay attention to this stuff, it means that my compatriots are a bunch of balding old has-beens who, between looking at liner notes, get their jollies suing orphans for copyright infringement.
And the really silly thing is that packaging isn’t going to be important for long. It is a method of branding that only makes sense if you have a physical album. We may keep listening to albums for a while, but as digital formats replace physical ones that branding will make less and less sense. I think that’s a shame, mainly because of the lovely artworks that so often adorn these things, and because of my attachment to physical media, but why so completely ignore change by giving awards, at the Grammys, to album art designers?
AM Syndicate’s album has some nice artwork on the front, kind of a watercolor painting of a wrought iron fence that is simultaneously gothic and childish, in the vein of an Edward Gorey work. It is cardboard and I am not sure I like that but I will discuss that in another entry because it is time to get to the music. Oh! That’s another reason the award pisses me off. So much about the Grammys serves to distract us from the quality of the music, almost like an admission that they don’t care. Focusing on packaging during a music award show just seems to rub the audience’s face in it.
Kind of like writing a page in a blog about an album and mentioning it once.
Right.
AM Syndicate’s “Empire” is in many ways a by-the-numbers indie album. They have lush arrangements that build a wall of sound featuring a very talented rhythm section that serves to provide focus and energy in what could otherwise be a musical mess. The lyrics are obscure and philosophical while simultaneously being playful and well constructed. The vocals are questionable at times. Lets say 40% of the times. They even have members that were at one time in other, better known acts. The bassist was in …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. The music has, at times, a similar feel to …AYWKUBTTOD, though the influences listed on the band’s myspace page (Blonde Redhead, Simon and Garfunkel, Lady Tron, Neutral Milk Hotel, Radiohead, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Bjork.) are probably as good a guide as I could come up with. Also the keyboardist is a hot asian chick named Golfball. Like, that’s her legal name. I wonder if that was a bet. Usually when I see weird names I think “hippie parents,” but in this case. I mean. Golfball? Not very hippie-ish. Maybe it was a breast size prediction. Cause like, Asians…no. no that’s not funny. I am sorry. That kind of mean spirited humor isn’t appropriate. If I had called them “bazoombas,” it might have been cute enough to be forgivable, but I did not. I apologize to you, my audience, for my tastelessness.
You know. If anyone got lost and read this by mistake.
So, AM Syndicate is kind of by-the-numbers, and a little lighter on the hooks than others. Yesterday’s album, by the And/Ors, was kind of by the numbers as well, but was replete with pop hooks. AM Syndicate, not as much. But it is a fun listen, and there are some great performances here. The band is definitely more on the side of virtuosic indie, with some great solos that do not show the slavish attachment to blues that Jam Bands do. And though I have called them by-the-numbers, nothing about them seems forced or contrived. In fact the virtuosity and the lush arrangements keeps the music feeling vital and exciting. The vocals suck but we all cant be Pavarti.
Bottom line, there is some great songwriting here, and a lot of talent. The music may not be a revelation, it will not change your life or let you meet Natalie Portman, but it is fun to listen to and really good music. I am keeping it, and if you are looking for a good indie band I would recommend you buy it.
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