National [2007] Boxer

[01] Fake Empire
[02] Mistaken For Strangers
[03] Brainy
[04] Squalor Victoria
[05] Green Gloves
[06] Slow Show
[07] Apartment Story
[08] Start A War
[09] Guest Room
[10] Racing Like A Pro
[11] Ada
[12] Gospel



amg: The National don't do anything radically different on Boxer, but then again, they don't really need to: their literate, quietly anthemic take on indie rock seemed to have arrived fully formed on their 2001 self-titled debut. Boxer just hones in even more precisely and intimately on the heartfelt territory the band covers, with punchy-yet-polished production and orchestration by the Clogs' Padma Newsome giving these songs an intimacy and widescreen expansiveness that rivals the Arcade Fire. The album's first four songs are among the National's finest work yet: "Fake Empire" begins as a dead-of-night ballad that echoes Leonard Cohen, then peppy brass and guitars turn it into something joyous. The brooding "Mistaken for Strangers" touches on the side of the band that could be mistaken for a more hopeful Joy Division, if lyrics like "You wouldn't want an angel watching over you?/Surprise surprise, they wouldn't want to watch" can be counted as hopeful. "Brainy," a borderline obsessive love song, shows off the remarkable, dark chocolate richness of Matt Berninger's vocals and how well they complement the band's occasionally bookish lyrics, while "Squalor Victoria" makes the most of Newsome's lavish string arrangements. The rest of Boxer is subtler, but no less accomplished, with each song supporting the other as a classic album should. "Apartment Story"'s hypnotic chug and "Slow Show"'s witty, knowing affection make them standouts, while the graceful, regretful "Ada" plays more like a short story than a song. As focused as it is ambitious, Boxer is riveting.
(amg 8/10)

Ozric Tentacles [1993] Jurassic Shift

Ozric Tentacles [1990] Erpland

[01] Eternal Wheel
[02] Toltec Spring
[03] Tidal Convergence
[04] Sunscape
[05] Mysticum Arabicola
[06] Crackerblocks
[07] The Throbbe
[08] Erpland
[09] Valley Of A Thousand Thoughts
[10] Snakepit
[11] Iscence
[12] A Gift Of Wings


amg: With a perfectly blended fusion of numerous musical styles and ideas, the Ozrics elevate consciousness and open the spaces on their sophomore post-cassette outing (which includes a re-recorded "Eternal Wheel," originally laid down in the cassette days). The infusion of reggae, dub, and Middle Eastern elements help to make this particular set a true joy to experience — it's hard not to bliss out while this is playing. Ozric Tentacles have developed an impressive following during their existence, defying every attempt to pigeonhole them as one thing or another — the best approach is simply to abandon all categories and go with the flow. That said, this 1998 CD release treats the music with great respect, and sounds wonderful.
(amg 9/10)

Ozric Tentacles [1989] Pungent Effulgent

[01] Dissolution (The Clouds Disperse)
[02] 0-1
[03] Phalarn Dawn
[04] The Domes Of G'bal
[05] Shaping The Pelm
[06] Ayurvedic
[07] Kick Muck
[08] Agog In The Ether
[09] Wreltch
[10] Ayurvedism



amg: Listening to the Ozrics can result in the feeling of one's consciousness going into a cosmically vast spin-dizzy state with no chemical or visual stimulation required to generate the effect. That shift of consciousness is certainly an immediate side-effect of this release, caused by the painless move between pyrotechnic instrumental workouts, drifting musical structures (such as "Phalarn Dawn") where languid dancing with lighted incense sticks seems called for, and the off-kilter space-reggae-rock-dub that forms the flow of "The Domes of G'Bal." As always, the band comfortably evades pigeonholes by dint of the fact that what begins at the first note is delightfully unlike that which ends with the last note. Remarkably, it all makes sense and there is never a sense of getting lost in the darkness.
(amg 8/10)