Peer Validated

Pictured: The Forms doing exactly what I imagine New Yorkers to be doing all the time. Namely; smoking, wearing black, and making fun of fly-overs.

The Forms are a New York band filled with sharp-lined guitar parts and cascading piano. They sometimes play with The National (or have at least twice according to my estimations). They have wit, class, verve, and - perhaps most importantly - the songs to back up all of their urbane charm. Imagine Dismemberment Plan, but warmer, closer to home. Imagine Bruce Springsteen if he was smart and played guitar better. Imagine Halloween, Alaska with rock parts.

The Forms new album was recorded by Steve Albini. His trademark huge guitar sound and reverb-ee drums are all over the album, but (for the most part) not at the expense of The Forms brilliant songwriting. While some songs do get the “heavy Albini” treatment, there are times when The Form capture such an other-wordly brilliance that it is almost eerie. These guys are the real deal. Please listen. Please buy October 23rd. For real. I know I say this a lot, but this is an album in the truest sense of the word. Album with a capital “a”. Trite, I know.

I’m looking for a track that sort of sums up the whole album. I couldn’t find one, but I like this one a lot. There you have it.

The Forms - Bones