Artist: The Ladybug Transistor
Album: Clutching Stems
Label: Merge
Playtime: 34:46 min
Genre: Indie
URL: http://www.myspace.com/theladybugtransistor
Rip date: 2011-06-13
Street date: 2011-06-14
Size: 67.80 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 258 kbps / 4410Hz / Joint Stereo
Release Notes
For 15 years, the name Ladybug Transistor on the front of an album has been
like a trademark of quality, and anyone buying one would be assured of
wonderfully rich and emotional pop songs, intricately layered production, and
a general feeling of radiant joy that comes from experiencing music that s
pure and true. Through member changes, fads coming and going, tragedy, and
renewal; the vision of Gary Olson has remained steady, and on the band s
seventh album, Clutching Stems, it shows no signs of flagging. In fact, the
album may rank right up there with The Albemarle Sound as their finest, most
fully realized work. Made with stalwart bassist Julia Rydholm, keyboardist
Kyle Forester, and new recruits Mark Dzula and Michael O Neil on guitars and
Eric Farber on drums, the record has a streamlined and cosmopolitan feel that
is new to them. As in the past, lush instrumentation blankets most of the
songs with a warm and cozy embrace, but this time it s not pastoral at all
The punch of the drums, occasional cold synths, and clean production conjure
up city streets and late-night drives instead of suburban greenery. It s a bit
of a carryover from the last album, and it s a welcome direction for the band
Honestly, the slightly cleaner, less busy, and nocturnal-sounding arrangements
suit Olson s stark baritone vocals better, and when some sunshine is required
the lovely backing vocals of Frida Eklund do the trick quite nicely. Coupled
with the sound of the album, the songs have a real emotional depth that is
common for Olson, but somehow seem more deeply felt here. There s nothing
concrete that makes it clear, it s more a feeling that comes through in the
often heartbreaking words and in Olson s wounded vocals. He sounds just a tiny
bit more engaged and forceful than usual and that suits him too. The break in
his voice on the chorus of "Fallen and Falling," the insistence of the
repeated no s at the end of Oh Cristina , the sly crooning on Breaking Up
on the Beat ; these are examples of Olson s growth as a vocalist and they help
make the album pretty special. It s rare for a band to keep getting better
over time, especially after 15 years, but the Ladybug Transistor have done it
and whether you ve been a fan the whole time or you are just discovering (or
rediscovering) them with this album, there is enough good stuff here to make
even the coldest-hearted music snob admit that there is music being made in
2011 that s just as good as anything made in 1965 or 1977, or any year
Track List
01. Clutching Stems ( 3:20)
02. Light On the Narrow Gauge ( 2:40)
03. Fallen and Falling ( 2:54)
04. Ignore the Bell ( 3:55)
05. Oh Christina ( 3:05)
06. Caught Don't Walk ( 4:18)
07. Breaking Up on the Beat ( 3:44)
08. Into the Strait ( 2:58)
09. Hey Jack I'm on Fire ( 3:00)
10. Life Less True ( 4:52)
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