View Larger
Rate it!
Avg: 3.5 (63 ratings)
- Date Released: January 20, 2008
- Genre: Rock/Pop
- Style: Alternative, Rock
- Label: Modern Skirts Records / Redeye
-
We Say...
The Modern Skirts come from a grand tradition of Southern pop bands, the kind of ensembles that marry huge, yearning hooks to loose, jangling guitars. It's cliché to cite R.E.M. (and even, at this point, Apples in Stereo), but those principles still apply: this Athens group excels in sly, unobtrusive melodies, the kind of laid-back hookery that works its way into the skull slowly instead of being obvious and all-at-once. "Give me a knife and a merry-go-round" goes a line in "Soft Pedals," and that's the aesthetic: gentle, pretty songs that carry tiny daggers. It's soft and subtle and sly — the best possible pop combination.
-
They Say...
Talk about coy: the Modern Skirts' second album indicates no label, nor does it identify the bandmembers -- though the sketchy liner information does identify guest star producers Mike Mills (of R.E.M.) and David Lowery (of Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker). In place of liner notes, the insert features a series of willfully strange watercolor paintings. If the band's music were similarly quirky and ambiguous, the album might be more annoying than engaging. But in fact, the Modern Skirts' brand of rock is so poppy and sweetly melodic that it borders, at times, on easy listening. Whether they mean it ironically or not, the inclusion of mellotrons, vibraphones, "dah-dah-dah" and "oooh-aaah" choruses, and at least one guitar solo that seems to be quoting from the Willy Wonka song "Pure Imagination" ends up feeling kind of kitschy, and while it's all quite enjoyable, you come away wondering how much of your enjoyment was actually arch amusement. Maybe it doesn't matter. "Radio Breaks" sounds like Ben Folds with better hooks; "Eveready" sounds like Fastball with a softer center; "Astronauts" sounds like what the Beatles might have sounded like if they'd spent a week listening to Jim Reeves albums. All of it adds up to plenty of slightly self-conscious, but still genuine, pop fun.
“ The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.”
Rolling Stone
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 12 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 12 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
| 01. |  |
Chanel |
2:54 |
|
| 02. | |
Soft Pedals |
3:13 |
|
| 03. | |
Chokehold |
2:34 |
|
| 04. | |
Radio Breaks |
3:33 |
|
| 05. | |
Yugo |
3:34 |
|
| 06. | |
Face Down |
3:45 |
|
| 07. | |
Conversational |
2:10 |
|
| 08. | |
Astronauts |
3:29 |
|
| 09. | |
Eveready |
3:47 |
|
| 10. | |
Motorcade |
3:55 |
|
| 11. | |
Mrs. |
2:59 |
|
| 12. | |
Like Lunatics |
4:37 |
|
12 Total Tracks, 40:30 Total Length
Loading...
Playlists If you like Modern Skirts, check out these member playlists
Credits
- John Keane - Engineer // John Keane - Mixing // David Lowery - Guitar // David Lowery - Producer // David Lowery - Musician // John Morand - Producer // John Morand - Engineer // John Morand - Mixing // Brent Lambert - Mastering // Adam Cohn - Clarinet // Adam Cohn - Musician // Asa Leffer - Engineer // Asa Leffer - Mixing // Michael Seaman - Engineer // Ben Roberts - Engineer
Choose from over 7 million
music downloadseMusic features legendary and emerging artists in every genre: classic rock to classical,indie to international, soundtracks to spiritual, jazz to country and many more.
MP3 downloads work on any digital media player
With eMusic, you OWN your music without any restrictions. Burn music to a CD, play it on your computer, mobile phone or any digital media player - including iPod®, Zune® and Walkman®.
Songs available for 50¢ or less
eMusic subscriptions start at just $11.99 a month for 24 downloads - that's just 50¢ per song! And it gets better from there - our plans go as low as 42¢ per song!
Music Discovery
eMusic is about discovery. We make finding new music fun again with music recommendations from our award-winning team of music experts, member playlists and new music features.
Cancel anytime
With all the great music and site features we're pretty sure you will love eMusic. If not, no problem. You can cancel at any time and keep the music you have downloaded.
© 1992 - 2009 All Media Guide, LLC