This album represents the reason why I still go out to buy music and try to talk with other living, breathing human beings. A few Saturday nights ago I happened to go on a bit of a bender with some extra money and looked for some albums that were missing from my collection. I had amassed quite a selection when a clerk noticed what I had in my bag and asked if I had ever heard of Purity Ring. I said no and he pointed out a rather cheap debut that was begging me to take it home. It had those puppy dog eyes, Avid Reader, I couldn’t say no and I bought it with no delay. Good thing I did.
In the past few years I have come to love a band called Sleigh Bells because of their grating approach to music and the syrup sweet vocals. This album goes in the opposite direction and contains Corin Roddick providing some awesome programming and synth/hip hop beats while Megan James gives off a floaty vibe of vocals with that emotive touch. By track two I was sucked in.
What caught me off guard was the way beats kind of flow out of nowhere and take shape for the vocals to lay down and bounce along. James does not go for bubble gum sweet, she’s telling you like it is, but in a way that won’t break your heart too much. I was taken by surprise with the lines “cut my sternum and then/ take my skinny ribs/ and wrap them around you” her enunciation brings that rather vivid scene to life.
I would suggest: “Fineshrine”,”Belispeak”, “Shuck”, “Grandloves”, and “Amenamy”. After a few spins I wanted to find the clerk and shake his hand; this was a breath of fresh air. The honesty catches you off guard and could be reason enough to find this one. This year I have had a lot of luck with smaller bands making some top music, so I keep adding to my pile which will make it tough in a few months to determine my favorites from this past year.
