The Monday Filter: Blink, Yeasayers & The Rule of Three

In trying to decide whether or not I like my blast feature this week I have been thinking about Malcolm Gladwell’s 2005 book, “Blink”. Full disclosure, I have not read “Blink”, but I follow Gladwell’s work and understand that “Blink” addresses the concept of whether snap-decisions are more accurate than those longer considered with further research and analysis. Do we make better decisions when we go with our immediate gut or when we really hunker down and consider all variables?

Malcolm Gladwell at the 92nd Street Y:

I run into this conundrum with music all the time. As I have said in this space before, I follow the rule that you have to listen to an album 3 times before you pass judgment on its merits. This flies in the face of Gladwell, which is OK. With writers like Gladwell, I get excited by the ideas they offer, but I am suspicious of anyone who thinks those ideas are dogma, explain the universe or are criteria for major life decisions. But, with my record reviews, many are the time where the following pattern emerges:

First listen – OK, this isn’t my cup of tea at all
Second listen – Hmmm, some of this stuff isn’t so bad, I really like track 4
Third listen – This is growing on me, there are at least 4 songs that are keepers

What I can’t figure out is whether or not familiarity is breeding likeability? Do I like a song based on its merits, or do I have a sense that I like it simply because I recognize it? I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn at MSG when I was in High School. I barely knew any of his music, but I had read about him and sensed it was an important show to go and see. At the time, his radio hit was “Tightrope” which was really the only song of his I could name. He played a great show, and completely crushed Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” and his own “ Texas Flood”, yet I recall my strongest reaction was when he launched into “Tightrope”. Jumping to the present, I think “Tightrope” is fine, but I’ve never consciously attempted to add it to my iPod, play it in a jukebox, or seek it out in any way. Yet, I have played Voodoo Child and Texas Flood dozens and dozens of times. Did I react to “Tightrope” because I actually liked it, or because I recognized it? Think about the times when you were younger and there was some kid in your class you knew but wasn’t your friend because you weren’t really compatible. Sometime that year, your parents dragged you to some BBQ thrown by their adult friends and the only person you know is that kid from your class. Odds are, you hung out with that kid the whole time, and probably had a pretty good evening. Did you get to like him because you got to know him better, or was familiarity breeding likeability?

Stevie Ray and Double Trouble Doing “Voodoo Child” at the El Mocambo:

This week, my most assiduously attuned filters buzzed and whirred and rattled like Conky 2000 and spat out the name Yeasayer, a mostly 4-piece Brooklyn band trying to carve out a unique niche in the indie rock world. They caught my ear earlier this year through word of mouth, and then they were playing the on theAlternateSide.org, and then I liked their contribution to the “Dark is the Night” compilation I filtered earlier this year. But, my deep dive this week, into their Feb 2010 record “Odd Blood” followed the pattern I outlined above.

First listen – The sound is all over the place and this guy’s vocals are too emo.
Second listen – I can’t tell if these guys want to be a modern indie rock version of Chic, the Cure or Jefferson Airplane?
Third Listen – Hmm…”Strange Reunions” kind of sounds like “Tomorrow Never Knows”

The Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows” from the Beatles cartoon series:

So, I am unsure if I like the album or I am just talking myself into it. It’s not really cohesive, but it’s not really trying to be. They kick off with a weird, sludgy Vocoder-driven song that wins the award for oddest attempt to lure a listener into an album that I have heard in some time. The first third rocks musically, but I don’t think the overwrought vocals match, it’s kind of like Beyonce standing in for Patty Smith. The last third is straight up psychedelic rock, which I like, but doesn’t fit the rest of the record. The middle is probably the sweet spot, lusher musical beds that match Chris Keating’s pleading vocal style. These guys have a lot of ideas, so if you don’t like the present weather, just wait five minutes. I am not sure weather it will land in my heavy play rotation, but these songs would be great in a mix. Need a transition from Arcade Fire to Panic at the Disco!? “Love Me Girl”, Track 6.

Yeasayer performing “ONE” on theAlternateSide.org:

Centrifuge Tracks:
“Love Me Girl”, “ Rome ”, “Strange Reunions”