 The
Forms
"Icarus" CD
Threespheres
Genres: indie rock, indie pop
Threespheres
PO Box 349
Brooklyn NY 11222
Jul 21 - 27 2003 |
Recorded
by Steve Albini, this under twenty minute "album"
features seven short indie rock tunes that are sure to please. With this type of
debut album, there's no reason why The Forms couldn't become
the next indie rock phenom. Their angular, complex-yet-simple sound is
complimented nicely by their singer, whose voice is remarkably used for singing,
as opposed to just shouting or growling. Cues are taken from past
greats like Jawbox, Slint, and Sonic Youth, all
very fine sources of influence if I may say so myself. Things are great right from the start. Opener "Stel"
opens with a bang, attacking the listener's ears with the type of
melodic guitar assault Jawbox introduced the world to. "Imnizar"
follows as a noisy rock number that isn't afraid to slow down and take
things gentler every once in awhile - when the chiming, soft guitar
comes in, it will bring a tear to your eye; the transition is almost Yo
La Tengo-esque. Other highlights are "Classical" and
"Stravinsky," two of the best numbers I've heard on a debut
album in quite some time. The former is an immediately accessible number that
sounds like noise rock slowed down to a crawl; it's a shoegazer
concept, but The Forms keep energy and power on their side to
make things deliberately unique and interesting. "Stravinsky," meanwhile, is
a dangerously beautiful pop tune, replete with a nice piano part and
melody galore.
To put it simply, Icarus is a beautiful album. The Forms
make indie rock that brings on the power but never disposes of pure
melody. Buy this record.
89%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
10 tracks, distributed by the
label, released 2003] |
