Pictured: Shapes and Sizes. Not the most beautiful people in the world.
Writing a review about the new Shapes and Sizes album is a somewhat strange endeavor. On the one hand, I know that it’s an inaccessible album, one that will turn away casual music listeners within the first four songs. One the other, I know that it’s an incredibly crafted, complex album that caring fans of indie music should be able to take a lot from. It’s an album that I want people to listen to.
When Shapes and Sizes wants to, they can be one of indie rock’s most catchy and memorable bands. They show it off on songs like ‘Head Movin’,’ possibly one of this year’s very best dance-rock songs, and the irresistible ‘Teller/Seller,’ a short, tightly knit tune with an unforgettable sing along chorus. In between songs like these though, they make listeners work for it. A few of the tracks on ‘Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner,’ sound like an experiment between electronic noise, clanking guitars and schizophrenic drum beating. A full album of these wouldn’t be listenable for most, but what makes ‘Split Lips’ special is the way that these songs are used to put an exclamation point on the more sensible aspects of the album. It’s a rollercoaster style ride, definitely. It leaves listeners a little exhausted and confused at the bottom, but in a genre of music where so many are looking for something more, Shapes and Sizes should be a band near the top of lists.
This is Head Movin’. Click play, kick your chair out from under you and dance.
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