In it's own right, this is a near-perfect album. This band is immensely talented and their newer stuff is absolutely incredible. Unlike those albums, Deja Entendu is blessed with a youngness of heart that allows you to enjoy every bit of it without taking it (or yourself) too-too seriously. There are plenty of mature themes here, but there's also a prevalent tongue-in-cheek approach taken that in the end equates to a great, fun, kick ass album.
It used to be easier to pretend that an album was its own perfectly self-contained artifact. The great records certainly feel that way. But albums are more permeable than solid, their motivations, executions and inspirations informed by, and often stolen from, their peers and forbearers. It all sounds awfully formal, but it's not. It's the very nature of music — of art, even. The Six Degrees features examine the relationships between classic records and five… more »
