AWmusic

I’ve had a chance to listen to Ashes Grammar sporadically over the past month or so. To say I’ve heard what I liked is a huge understatement. Some reviews have been lukewarm and I guess I’ll disagree vehemently that this album is a “miss”. A Sunny Day In Glasgow is a seven piece from Philadelphia and I can’t really peg them into a specific genre, I’ll just use the “experimental” tag.

A lot of experimental music is tough to judge, because it generally polarizes people and where Animal Collective is a huge exception to the rule most people will tell you that they just don’t “get” AnCo. It’s really not their fault though, I remember the first time I listened to Strawberry Jam and I couldn’t handle it.

I guess that their music isn’t necessarily Pop but alas I keep finding that most songs at their core are pop songs. A song at its basis needs to have some sort of structure and while there certainly are releases that have no structure at all, most music could be put into the pop section. A Sunny Day In Glasgow sort of make pop songs but in the abstract sort of sense. I’d compare them to Panda Bear or Animal Collective but just not as forward in their style. They have good vocals which are sung wonderfully over and behind a wide variety effects.

At a slower brooding place, A Sunny Day In Glasgow has music that is geared towards myself. It gives me time to enjoy their music with what it feels like 50 interludes. At 22 tracks it features a lot of short sub 2 minute “tracks”. While I do find myself struggling at times I couldn’t help go back to it constantly. The interludes make the lengthy tracks just that much rewarding. Sometimes bands use 1 minute interludes as teasers and ASDIG use it to setup the main tracks perfectly.

This year has been a tough one for me musically. I haven’t really found many things I’ve liked A LOT. This album however I’ll stand by and say it probably ends up in my top 20 5 of the year list.

There really is too much to cover to definitely say what this album really is. It features good singing and a lot of vast ideas owing up to what the beauty of experimental music is. When it works, it gives your mind that feeling a total euphoria that sets you free. How will you like this album? I don’t have the slightest idea but I LOVE IT. It’s an album that might not get you on it’s first go round but while the 22 tracks are exhausting to go through, it’ll pay off with time.

Rating: 5 out of 5
I hate the review by Popmatters (simply, it sucks as it the reviewer hates the interludes and how each song doesn’t stand out – it’s an album!). It hardly captures what’s important and definitely loses sight of what an album is. (The reviewer looks like he just covers the beginning).

This album is great and it shouldn’t be overlooked. (I’m glad Pitchfork gave it an 8.3 but why not a best new music tag?).

Passionate Introverts by A Sunny Day In Glasgow
Evil, With Evil, Against Evil by A Sunny Day In Glasgow
Failure by A Sunny Day In Glasgow

Tags: album