Okay, so these are some great songs, but before you listen, gather up some patience. The Twilight Sad are purveyors of post-modern anthemic rock. For starters, they approach their tunes with confidence, allowing upfront vocals to set a scene over hazy, wafting background clatter, and before you know it, you’re in an arena burner. But just before you can write off the track for being too “good,” the song self-destructs. Root movement bass and crashing guitars that drift from far off slowly melt to shoegazey sheets of white noise ? and they’re rescued from Snow Patrol purgatory. There’s a strong dose of The Walkmen’s “The Rat” in “And She Would Darken,” the songs separated by a charming trans-Atlantic accent, but bound by that pulsing, claustrophobic feel. Each track walks the tightwire between sap and heart turner ? but the overdriven guitar lashings that turn to complete deconstruction give ‘em balance. They’re winners.
The Twilight Sad – “And She Would Darken The Memory” (MP3)
The Twilight Sad – “3 Seconds Of Dead Air” (MP3)
Looks like the band is moving into the LES for a spell. After CMJ shows on 11/1 at The Delancey (3PM) and Fontanas (8PM), The Twilight Sad will be in residency for three Sundays at Pianos, beginning 11/5. Plenty of chances to check ‘em, no excuse not to!
The Glaswegians’ five song The Twilight Sad EP is out 11/14 in the US and Canada on Fat Cat Records.
Enjoy.
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Good one. I love the description.
needs better singer.
Man, this is the heaviest Scottish accent I’ve ever heard in a song. Good for him for not trying to hide it like a lot of other Scottish bands do.
Thunderously ordinary. Ten minutes of my life I’ll never get back.
And another minute you wasted letting us know. Plus the minute spent trying to come up with an ironic modifier for “ordinary”.
anthemic has become so overused in recent record reviews. i call it the “anthemic pandemic”
Not as urgent as “the rat” by the walkmen, but a pretty decent band. Wouldn’t call em the next big thing but I guess they are worth watching.
how is this rubbish anthemic? b-o-r-i-n-g
dear stereogum,
how much did NME pay you for that synopsis?
or…
did Leto slap your ears one too many times?
Saw them at Fontanas. There’s some potential, but they are NOT “professional” musicians. Was talking to one of their Scottish friends, he said they’ve played 6 or 7 live shows in TWO YEARS. And it shows. They kinda pissed away their first and only shot at playing somewhere other than Glasgow I think.
well, i really like it. and that’s saying something since i hate scottish accents and i find his voice lovely.
i wish the songs didn’t deconstruct at the end, though.
Saw these gents at Pianos last Sunday and they were pretty epic. The tension and release within the songs really translates well live and I was impressed by the wall of sound these guys create. Great tunes, esp. the new ones, (or the ones left off the EP, not sure…)
these guys friggin rock. could use some better mixes, but the tunes are solid.
I hadn’t heard these guys until I happened upon these songs and I think they have a great sound. After listening a few times these songs really grew on me.
I saw these guys at their CMJ showcase @ Fontana’s. It’s funny that you say that they approach their songs with confidence, because the singer kept his eyes closed the entire time he was singing like he was nervous or something. There were like 20 people total at this show, heh.
My review:
http://blog.podbop.org/archives/2006/11/08/cmj_recap_wednesday_night/
not the best. not the worst.
not the worst. not the best.
You’re talking with any knowledge, i listen the whole Ep and Stereogum is right about its anthemic or it’s really worth to watch. You can mistake, if you say these with only one spin.
Also when i saw the comparison to the Walkmen, i said we thought the same things. Their “Last year’s rain didn’t fall quite so hard” recalls “The Rat” also “All Hands And The Cook” from “A Hundred Miles Off”.
Love these guys. Arab Strap meets The Chameleons meets Migala. Love the Scottish accent as well. Definately a band to watch!!!
absolutely stunning.I am an eightees kiddie, so I love the mix.Keeping the vocal quite dry works brilliantly.Also reminds me of the chameleons! Beautiful vocalist too, which they probably won’t want focusing on, but ‘fraid it’ll help them on their merry road to commercial success/misery.
you guys dont know friggin decent music when you hear it!!!!
these guys are amazing, and if you took the time to listen to the album or even go and see them live you would find out what real music is!!!!
Until then get a life!!
Being the music snob I am, I feel if they spent a few afternoons with Robin Guthrie they could be a lot better. I do like them though.
These guys are awesome! They’re peripheral, that’s for sure, but they’re the real deal. The reason why the show had so few spectators is because most people have never heard of these guys. I would have attended but I just found out about them today. Depressing though, very radiohead-ish.