Never short on smart 'n' manic drama, Montreal-based avant-pop quartet Shapes and Sizes open previously unreleased, second-album outtake "Annihilator" with a flourish: Caila Thompson-Hannant sets the stage ("When posed with a question of killing for mercy / she would never falter") before launching headlong into a spaced, jittery "annihilator" alongside an arcing, percussive racket. When she hits her stride, shouting about how she has plans for her "little cauliflower," the vocalist conjures a punk, less cutesy Lavender Diamond ... Rainer Maria minus the emo? A fleshier Young People?
The track ends when she opts to take that veggie home "but not to mama" -- a hush comes over the proceedings, before a bass thump andsome studio chatter (a prize to anyone who can make out what they're saying) extends the exit with a seemingly ad hoc coda. We're curious why "Annihilator" didn't make the Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner cut, but are more than glad the lil' life 'n' death-marching-hymn-that-could has finally surfaced.
Shapes And Sizes - "Annihilator" (MP3)
Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner is out on Asthmatic Kitty
You can catch Shapes And Sizes live, often with fellow vocal acrobats Yeasayer:
09/12 - Montreal, QC @ Orange Divan
09/13 - Rochester, NY @ The Bugjar #
09/14 - Alfred, NY @ Alfred University #
09/15 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern #
09/16 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Art Works #
09/17 - Athens,OH @ Baker Union #
09/18 - Bloomington, IN @ Waldron Arts #
09/19 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College #
09/20 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas #
09/21 - Richmond, IN @ Comstock Room, Runyan Center #
09/22 - Champaign, IL @ Canopy Club 'Pygmalion Music Festival' #
09/24 - Durham, NC @ Duke University Coffee House #
09/25 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat #
09/26 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Khyber #
09/27 - New York City, NY @ Cake Shop #
09/28 - Providence, RI @ as220 #
09/29 - Hanover, NH @ Rocket Fuel Club %
# with Yeasayer
% with Cool Kids
