Premature Evaluation: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder
The time has come for you to confirm your love (or hate) for the new Clap record -- for free! Head to MySpace to stream the whole album (aside from the free MP3s). Yes, the first song is supposed to sound like that. And yes, Fridmann did a great job with the rest of the record, bringing his trademark touch to transform the band's sound. The writing fluctuates, sometimes showing welcome growth, sometimes sounding challenging just for the sake of it. Before you decide to hate it, listen to "Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles In The Air And Burning," "Emily Jean Stock," and "Goodbye To Mother And The Cove," our favorite cuts. If you like, you can take the MP3s home with you today via secret link by preordering the CD at Insound (the physical CD will ship 1/30). Not sure if SLT will win 'em new fans, but we are sure it'll get people talking.
Posted at 3:01 PM in Premature Evaluation
Tags: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Yikes, that 'some loud thunder' song is almost unlistenable.. sounds like burning eardrums.
'Underwater' is still my fav so far
Score = 0
what? I pre-ordered for the privilege of a sneak peek when I could have just streamed the album from MySpace? I guess it's nice to have a backup plan, I still haven't gotten that much-touted top secret download link from Insound.
Score = 0
say something bulut say something... okay guys my fav. song "Love Song No. 7" but not copy from me ok?
Score = 0
i really really like it upon first listen
Score = 0
i still haven't gotten the secret link email yet either, but i emailed insound and they said that the emails are going out in bunches today between 12pm and 6pm (eastern time i'm assuming?)
Score = 0
hate it
Score = 0
love it
Score = 0
...starting to get pissed about not getting the secret link. this shit is going to be amazing. i can't stop listening to the 5 songs i have.
Score = 0
"We apologize for the delay in receiving your download link for the Some Loud Thunder Digital Download Pre-Release. Due to the high volume of pre-orders it has taken a bit longer to generate an individual download link for everybody. We are working to make sure that everyone receives a link by the end of the day today, January 16th."
^email i just got from insound^
apparently a lot of people ordered this record.
Score = 0
I fell in love with CYSHY's debut in 2005, but now I never listen to it. I suspect that the case will be the same with SLT, only this time I won't be deceived. They're not good songwriters; that's why they lack replay value.
Score = 0
"I fell in love with CYSHY's debut in 2005, but now I never listen to it. I suspect that the case will be the same with SLT, only this time I won't be deceived. They're not good songwriters; that's why they lack replay value.
Posted by: T. at January 16, 2007 5:58 PM"
BINGO
this album is going to die, really really quickly. Just read the most scathing review of it in a magazine
Score = 0
pretty tight sound... i have been a lover and remain one after my first listen. cant wait for the "super secret special link"!
Score = 0
I'll always have a special place in my heart for their debut, and so far SLT is effin great. It has some questionable moments, but that might change over time.
Score = 0
I checked it out on My Space and I definitely liked it. You know Karen O. reminds me of Andrea Echeverri, from the Columbian rock group Aterciopelados. They're both embody that independent woman vibe. You can check Aterciopelados' music out on My Space too.
www.myspace.com/aterciopelados
Score = 0
I checked it out on My Space and I definitely liked it. You know Karen O. reminds me of Andrea Echeverri, from the Columbian rock group Aterciopelados. They're both embody that independent woman vibe. You can check Aterciopelados' music out on My Space too.
www.myspace.com/aterciopelados
Score = 0
Still waiting...
Come on insound
Score = 0
Satan Said Dance=so good live. So, so good.
Score = 0
I really don't understand why they did that to Some Loud Thunder, they ruined a great song. Other then that its a solid album, and after a few listens you can stand the opener.
Oh, yeah. If you can't get into 'Mama, Won't You Keep Those Castles in the Air & Burning' then you need to re-think a few things. Great Song.
Score = 0
i don't think 'some loud thunder' is supposed to sound like that despite what stereogum says...
at least the version that i have sounds normal...
hmm....
Score = 0
Yeah, on the illegally downloaded pirated copy I have, that first song is totally normal...and damned good. Even CYHSY wouldn't do such an indie-prick move - or would they?
Score = 0
Listening to my Insound download, and so far it's great. Unlike others above, I've not yet tired of the self-titled. I dig what they've done here - changed it up a bit from the s/t instead of trying to mimic it, without losing what I guess qualifies as their "trademark" sound. I have a feeling I'm going to be pretty stoked when I get through the whole thing.
Score = 0
Hey everyone. Since the posts slowed here I'm hoping most people already got their email with the download link. Emails started getting sent around 6pm (delays due to some spazzy code and MySpace hooplah). All the emails were sent tonight. If you havent gotten yours, please email us at help@insound.com. Also, all new orders get the download link immediately on the last page of checkout.
Anyway...that's the scoop.
Best,
Matt/Insound
Score = 0
Horrible, unlistenable garbage. Stop pretending you like this garbage in a pathetic attempt to look hip or clever, because it's not working.
Score = 0
man. how could i not like it after such a shining review?
how come no blogger can come out and say that this album is shit? don't like admitting that the one band that got any sort of popularity through blogs totally blew it this time around?
Score = 0
I have to agree with 'cover your ears' -- I think people want this album to be good soooo bad that they'll take anything they hear. The first song is a total fuck-off.. doesn't make any sense, even in an indier-than-thou context. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is not really that good. In full disclosure, I'm a fan of the first album too.
I think my girlfriend (who likes CYHSY.. but really doesn't listen to them too much) put it best after playing her the first two tracks - "Yeah... that sounds stupid." Classic.
Score = 0
Yes there are some good songs - 'Love song no. 7' has a great vibe, 'Goodbye to Mother and Cove' is great, as is the album closer 'five easy pieces'.
BUT.
The first album had such an innocent, slightly maniacal, and incredibly infection charm. Too often, THIS album reeks of self-gratifying experimentation that does nothing to add to the atmosphere - but instead tries to hide the lazy writing. It's as if CYHSY decided that they didn't actually need to write good songs if they made those songs 'challenging' to listen to. The most obvious example is Some Loud Thunder: Adding level-maxing distortion isn't clever or inventive - it's a cheap trick. I listened to a version of the song last night with no distortion, and the song's alright, but kind of forgettable.
I definitely agree -- people want this album to be amazing soo badly (i know I did), that they're willing to MAKE themselves like it, and rationalize it by calling it 'growing'.
But what do I know.
Score = 0
It took me a few times over awhile to get into the first record, but this one is awesome from the get go. predictable backlash from people = awesome...
Score = 0
It will be interesting to see where (or if) SLT lands on everyone's top releases of '07 lists.
Score = 0
i don't know if all of you haters are listening to the same album i am...because this is great stuff, it might be too strange, new, different, and experimental for your particular tastes, but don't bash it just because you don't understand it...goodness gracious...
Score = 0
regarding the title track, the vocals seem to be the exact same take as in the alec solo demo of the song that's been floating around for a while (you can probably find it in the message boards on clapyourhandssayyeah dot net). my guess is that he liked the take so much that he didn't want to re-record it. i think the songs got a great vibe to it (dig the handclaps) but the demo (with a drum machine) sounds better to me. and i admit, it does sound a bit out of place as the opening track on the record.
Score = 0
not so good, not so bad, but now i prefer the The Good, The D.Mouse and the Queen
next... arcade fire, please
Score = 0
The sound of the first song is by far the best idea they've ever had.
Score = 0
"i don't think 'some loud thunder' is supposed to sound like that despite what stereogum says...
at least the version that i have sounds normal..."
The leak I have sounds normal as well. It wouldn't surprise me if Fridmann convinced them to nuke the sound though (or vice versa?). I think it sounds pretty cool, although I'm glad I also have the "clean" version.
Score = 0
I like this album a lot.
Score = 0
"It took me a few times over awhile to get into the first record, but this one is awesome from the get go. predictable backlash from people = awesome..."
same here. i dont think the first albums that great. i was overwhelmed and confused by the hype. its cool or whatever. the songs were good.
this one has a magic about it though. studio trickery or not. thats what im in to i guess. and i really think this if fucking great. most of the complaints ive read are just people whining. chill out if you "dont like it", why have to smash it all with negativity? so eager to say they fucked up, youre loving it....
i like it better than the last one, i think it has more repeat value in a lot of different ways.
Score = 0
The sound quality of the first song was a deliberate decision. I, for one, think it's a smart one. It's an immediate statement. The album as a whole is dreamy and at times bizarre. I assume that many people (who jsut want to hear a re-hashing of the debut record) will be turned off. But I think many music fans will find a lot here that wasn't on the first record. I personally like this one more. It is really growing on me with each listen and I have a feeling that will keep happening as I listen more. They could have easily put out more of the same thing but they are a band focused on the artistic integrity of the music and the overall ambition of what they're doing as a band. This can even be observed in their unconventional marketing/"diy" methods. Great band, great record.
Score = 0
I got the illegal leak as well...the "Some Loud Thunder" track is also normal, or at least very different from the one on myspace...
Score = 0
the actual album version of "Some Loud Thunder" is actually quite good... dont know why the myspace one is such crap.... there's no distortion or cowbell or anything... something got messed up somewhere
Score = 0
As much as I wanted to hate this record I have to say it's tops. Not everyone is going to get it and that's a good thing. In my opinion this is the Talking Heads album that should have come out between "Fear of Music" & "Remain in Light". Actually sounds like they recruited Eno to do this. They're taking chances and the payoff is evident... this is a fresh sounding record that will stand the test of time. People who dig this should also check the new band Ahoi out. Saw them recently in NY and they had some wild Eno-esque stuff happening. Thumbs up.
Score = 0
OMG what have they done! What Have They Done!!
They've taken a shining perfect thing and trashed it! God it makes me weep.
Still the first 3 minutes 30 seconds of Goodbye To The Mother is pure pure genius.
Score = 0
I had at least 5 mood changes listening to this album and by the time I got to end of the first track I felt so emotional; like I was leaving a girlfriend! I hate it and love it and hate it love it; what more can you ask for from art! They have made a similar musical statement as The Cure when they went from Three Imaginary Boys to Seventeen Seconds; which in hindsight was a brilliant move. CYHSY have deliberately made SLT more abstruse; this will fuck all the Rolling Stone mainstream cling-ons off and leave just us (we know who we are)...Well done Clapsters you resisted selling out!
Score = 0
I don't know what all the bitching's about. The first track is great.
Score = 0
i think it is a very creative & wise shift for them to take. the critical people were totally expected for a band as swell as themselves. it's funny to me that people want them to keep making their music from their debut over & over again. they are still young and have a ton of ideas along with alec's obsessive lyric writing. i think it's a brillant fuck-off album.
clap on
Score = 0
JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THE GIG IN DUBLIN LAST NIGHT WAS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. THE NEW SONGS WELL AND TRUELY BOMBED. ONLY WHEN THE BAND PLAYED SOME OLD FAVOURITES DID THE CROWD COME ALIVE. ALSO CYHSY SPENT A GRAND TOTAL OF 65 MINUTES ON STAGE. LOVE THEM TO BITS BUT WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO TWO HOUR GIGS!!!!!!!!!
Score = 0
Its not just the first track that is distorted, its at least 4. The title track is just the worst offender. Im really disappointed, as the title track is actually the best one in my opinion (after 2 cd listens anyway). Seriously though, what the hell were they thinking... trying to be edgy? This clipping bit goes well beyong "lo-fi"
Score = 0
Is anyone out there old enough to remember the Kinks' lead singer Ray Davies? The Ounsworth voice is what grabs attention; the band musicianship astounds; the depth of the seemingly frivolous lyrics really impresses/moves me.
Both the first Clap Your Hands album and Some Loud Thunder contains some very profound observations disguised as carnival music. How can you not want to dance? Or comment on its political statements?
Score = 0
could it be it? i was searching for information needed for such a long time. Thank you!
Score = 0