You Are All I See

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You Are All I See album cover
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 10   Total Length: 41:12

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Ian Cohen

eMusic Contributor

Ian Cohen caused a minor uproar after panning the first Presidents of the United States of America LP in his high school newspaper, and not much has changed sin...more »

08.23.11
Hot-blooded and deceptively hooky
2011 | Label: Vagrant Records (US)

It’s not surprising that towering redhead Pat Grossi finds most of his inspiration as Active Child from minimalist, production-leading R&B — after all, choirboys who play the harp don’t really have a whole lot of strong role models in indie rock. But while peers like Autre Ne Veut and How To Dress Well fascinatingly warp and desexualize the form while drawing from memory, You Are All I See is hot-blooded and deceptively hooky in spite of its pillowy textures, retaining a visceral effect even with absolutely no tie to anything one might consider rock music. As showcases for Grossi’s forceful falsetto, singles “Hanging On” and “Playing House” (featuring a nervy guest vocal from HTDW’s Tom Krell) hit with such melodic clarity that they occasionally feel like they’re propping up the rest of You Are All I See. But while more low-key, their surroundings ingratiate in a manner that takes after its main instrument, ethereal but hardly weightless. “High Priestess” and “Way Too Fast” in particular tether themselves to Grossi’s accusatory lyrics, weaving through spindly harp plucks, synthesized strings and an eerie gloss that recalls both the R&B and corporate rock of the ’80s without leaning on it for… read more »

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Madly in love

EMUSIC-023B15DD

I saw Active Child open up for School of Seven Bells in Tampa, FL in the fall of 2010. I have been a fan ever since. I spent days listening to the 5-song EP over and over. I died when I saw that they came out with an LP and died again when I got to see them play in San Francisco to a sold-out crowd. If you get a chance, go see their show. One of my favorite bands.

user avatar

Madly in love

EMUSIC-023B15DD

I saw Active Child open up for School of Seven Bells in Tampa, FL in the fall of 2010. I have been a fan ever since. I spent days listening to the 5-song EP over and over. I died when I saw that they came out with an LP and died again when I got to see them play in San Francisco to a sold-out crowd. If you get a chance, go see their show. One of my favorite bands.

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Love this.

Celiador

I actually can't stop listening.

eMusic Features

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eMerging Artists

By J. Edward Keyes, Editor-in-Chief

At eMusic, we take pride in being the place you hear about artists first. Whether it's through our eMusic Selects program - which brought you the first releases by Best Coast, Crystal Stilts, Strand of Oaks and more - or our Breaking Artist features, our editorial team is always on the grind to bring you the best new artists first. Our eMerging Artists station is your chance to be first on the Next Big Thing. more »

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Active Child Talks Classic Hip-Hop

By Hua Hsu, eMusic Contributor

With his strident falsetto and taste for grandiose, imposing production, it is easy to hear the influence of Pat Grossi's training as a choir singer on his debut album, You Are All I See. What might be less obvious is the influence of 1990s hip-hop, a moment Grossi witnessed firsthand as the son of Priority Records' Vice President of Sales. "(My dad) was the one who was somewhat wheeling and dealing the albums out," Grossi… more »

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  • 05.22.12 http://t.co/dWaTAO1k
  • 05.22.12 “@StrattonEaster: @ActiveChild courtesy of the world's greatest photographer http://t.co/tV0OjOMl”
  • 05.21.12 Future Millionaires @strattoneaster @maimcoh http://t.co/FNKJPq1i
  • 05.20.12 Show in Denver tonight is at Larimer Lounge not Bluebird
  • 05.19.12 DENVER show @ larimer lounge is not sold out, get ticks here http://t.co/b1TOTtus
  • 05.19.12 Lawrence Kansas we are at the Jackpot Saloon tonight @ midnight, delirious sleep deprived lazer like real genius type sett
  • 05.18.12 Really hoping Denver shows up big tmrw night, @maimcoh you comin w the senator?
  • 05.17.12 #np Mariana - Warm Ghost
  • 05.17.12 Amsterdam see you soooon