Alt-J’s “This Is All Yours” Review

Alt-Js This Is All Yours Review

The recently anticipated sophomore album by the London based trio and Mercury Prize- winning band Alt-j, has been received with hate and love. This Is All Yours is the recent release for this band that has been dubbed several times as “the new Pink Floyd” or a “Radiohead-esque band”.

The first single that was released “Hunger of the Pine” left listeners puzzled with the sampled song “4×4” by Miley Cyrus ringing in between parts “I’m a female rebel” countless of times meshing with lead singer Joe Newman and keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton mash of a french mumble and the chorus lyrics. The song arrived in mid-summer not quiet yielding to the typical summer track expectations until later they brought out their The Black Keys type song “Left Hand Free”. In an interview Hamilton mentioned that the song was a satirical take on the typical alt-rock archetype, despite the unexpected and almost violent chorus lyrics. The two singles completely left fans shocked with what aesthetic to expect in their new album. The two songs, definitely, had to be given a listen or two in order for anyone to fully appreciate the effect.

Returning to their “normal” sound the third single “Every Other Freckle” at first listen is home for any Alt-J listener, once you understand the lyrics it becomes familiar in the light of their previous tracks such as “Breezeblocks” and “Fitzpleasure”, you can almost feel Newman whispering lullabies in your ears about very weird things in a Joe Newman way. Thom Green, the drummer, continued to amaze us with his precise drumming techniques and multitalented assortment of drumming skills.

The album’s first half is weaved in with several slow songs (Intro, Arrival In Nara,& Nara) serving as intros to the whole album. Joe Newman’s approach to the ever so subtle vocals on “Nara” and “Arrival in Nara” felt perfectly syncopated with the light beat that the band aimed for. “Intro”, resembling their first albums Intro, as well was filled with harmonies of Hamilton and Newman as their voice echoes off as if they are prerecorded buttons on the synth. About two minutes in, Newman begins to sing with a slow mumbling sound with inaudible chatter that mystifies the ear.

The second half is entered with “Garden of England” that gives you a renaissance feel of the flutes with a dry wind sound echoing in the background. “Choice Kingdom” starts with perfect unity the same way “Ms” and “Matilda” introduced the second half of their first album. “Warm Foothills” is by far the most creative song that Alt-J has ever presented. The song is sang by Newman, Unger and two females in another band who take turns passing out the lyrics around like a singing version of hot potato. Their voices blend in an awkward symphonic beauty that is followed by the phenomenon that is called “The Gospel Of John Hurt”. The song starts out slow and changes tempo in the middle plunging you into a fast paced drum-driven beat with energetic high pitched echoes of Newman’s voice and then once again returns to its original state of tempo.

Marking the conclusion of the album the song “Pusher” shares cords to it’s follow up “Bloodflood pt.II”, a second rendition or continuation of the first album’s phenomenal song. “Bloodflood’s” lyrics refer to a past favorite “Fitzpleasure” by bringing back the “mandela men”, who were a gang of boys in Newman’s hometown, and the ” C O double M O N” in the sequel song, as well as “bloodflood’s” lyrical content from the first one of repeating “flood of blood to the heart” is recognized in the concluding end of the song.

This Is All Yours was a disappointment to some especially because of the softer edge they have placed in their lyrics which were present in the first album that included their departed member Gwil Sainsbury, but the simple solution is to not compare the two as if they were completely going to copy the lyrical and musical content of “An Awesome Wave”, and to listen to it without pointing out its vices and virtues. The for sure band didn’t shoot high enough in songs such as “Garden Of England” and “Leaving Nara” but they surely triumphed in songs such as “Pusher”, “Every Other Freckle” and “The Gospel Of John Hurt”.

 

Rating: 8.5/10

To listen to full album click here