Chairlift, Something
Featured Album
Radically expanding their sound and vibe
This is not exactly the same Chairlift that buzz-catching bloggers fell in love with on the back of a 2008 iPod Nano ad. In the four years since, the Brooklyn-based trio re-released its indie debut Does You Inspire You on a major label and became a duo after the departure of founding member Aaron Pfenning. On Something, the group hooks up with Franz Ferdinand producer Dan Carey and radically expands both its sound and vibe. Whereas the original Chairlift flipped between Twin Peaks spookiness and synth-pop spoofiness, its 2012 incarnation visits several places between and beyond.
Frontwoman Caroline Polachek has become a far more confident singer, not ashamed to let out her inner Sarah McLachlan, which in the context of the band’s brighter and bolder palate is not at all a bad thing: “Take It Out on Me” floats on a raft of serene but sticky synths while its lyrics suggest either S&M or an affair gone askew – an uncanny combination that recalls McLachlan’s seductive yet unsettling “Possession.” Sleek ballads like “Cool As a Fire” reveal a far more earnest and finessed beauty in Polachek’s delivery that transcends Does You‘s archness. Yet some of its playfulness remains intact here, bolstered by firmer beats and more dexterous basslines, particularly on jaunty opening cut “Sidewalk Safari” and the nonsensical but supremely hooky “Amanaemonesia.” It’s unclear if Chairlift is reaching for deeper meaning, but the prettier and more propulsive Something suggests that the shape-shifting pair is keeping all options open.
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EMUSIC-02201DE6on November 23, 2012 at 8:18 am said: Emusic: Nice selection, but these prices are not exactly "door busters". Also, the Baroness album is listed as 13.99, which is not less than 5.99.-
eMusic_Moderatoron November 23, 2012 at 12:11 pm said: Thanks for pointing this out. Baroness/Yellow & Green is a double album and should be priced at $9.90 for the sale, but there appears to have been an error earlier. It's appearing correct now though, and I was just able to successfully download it, at the sale price.
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DT1on November 23, 2012 at 10:15 am said: Have to agree with lots of other comments - the lead-up promo for this sale really sucked, actually made me resolve to ignore it. But curiosity got the best of me - this is indeed a nice selection, hitting all over the map so there's something to interest everyone. Nothing compelling enough to spend 6 bucks on the whole album, but there are a bunch of stand-out tracks now on my save-for-later list.
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Brother_Woodyon November 23, 2012 at 10:56 am said: Nothing here for the classical fan. Disappointing in the extreme.
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EMUSIC-02050DE5on November 23, 2012 at 11:58 am said: Nice selection for us rock/alt/pop fans. Found a few I had on my wish list that I'll be buying today. Glad I waited. $5.99 beats the $8 I was going to spend so I'll take it.
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jamielevackon November 23, 2012 at 12:07 pm said: Is this an offer that is just available in the States? Almost every album is unavailable in the county where I live (Canada) and what is available isn't on sale. What gives? I have been a member since 2007; I don't get to participate in sales?
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Falwellon November 23, 2012 at 1:16 pm said: It's pretty insane how many of these albums aren't available in Canada. i know this isn't eMusic's fault - the labels choose whether the albums are allowed to be distributed here. i'd buy them if they were on eMusic, but since they don't want my money...
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xiniton November 23, 2012 at 4:57 pm said: Emusic hasn't really been making much visible effort to provide services to Canada... Album pricing would be nice. There are albums running for $15 here that cost $7 through other sources, but they seem to insist on sticking to the per-track pricing. There have been some increased bonus booster packages that we can buy on occasion, but these are either infrequent or poorly advertised. 1/2 price booster pack promotions, etc, might be more interesting...
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EMUSIC-009F5AC6on November 23, 2012 at 5:11 pm said: Emusic, wish you included a classical music category. Sad these specials so often are devoid of such a major genre.
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RPRon November 23, 2012 at 7:13 pm said: Agreed - classical music is one of the reasons I joined emusic a long time ago, but now I'm cancelling after using up my last few bucks.
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EMUSIC-0268E325on November 23, 2012 at 5:59 pm said: Really this is the years top albums? Who are 90% of these bands? Where is the country, rock, hard rock, rap? I expected something better from EMUSIC!
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RPRon November 23, 2012 at 7:11 pm said: You expected something better from emusic? For god's sake, why?
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TnTTaylor1955on November 23, 2012 at 6:10 pm said: Lots of great Indie Artists. But not much MTR or music that is known outside those circles. I love rare and obscure music also, but really not much of that either. If you love Euro style music lots for you to buy.
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EMUSIC-02C107B0on November 23, 2012 at 10:11 pm said: The selection is nice for my musical taste, but I'm disappointed. Almost every single album I'm interested in here is one-upped by Amazon's mp3 selection. Meh.
