Mutemath is a Grammy Award nominated American rock band from New Orleans that formed in 2003. Their music consists of many elements and has been described as everything from electro-alternative-rock to psychedelic-gospel to experimental-pop which give their music a futuristic flair. The group consists of Paul Meany on keyboards & vocals; Darren King on drums, samples, and programming; Greg Hill on guitar; and Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas on bass, but they often perform on any mixture or variation of these instruments. I am a pretty recent fan of Mutemath, so I stole this from Wikipedia.
My sister Amanda introduced me to this group as they do have some religious aspects and have characteristics of many other groups she likes. They also have characteristics of some groups that I like such as Thrice and Mae, but add in an electronic component that produces what I feel is a unique sound. Plus they include my lone area of expertise within their name.
Not that I don’t want everyone to like my picks, but I usually pick artists that define my taste in music for everyone to get an idea of how music makes me feel, regardless of whether I think you’ll like it or not. This week takes that element and attempts to cater more towards this group’s likes. This is probably as sophisticated of an artist that I could pick. Their albums have good ratings on Amazon (which I know can be misleading) and on rateyourmusic.com, so I thought they at least had a fighting chance coming in to get over the Music Togetherness Mendoza line of 50%.
When Amanda mentioned I should check this group out, I started with 2009’s ‘Armistice.’ I was sucked in immediately by ‘The Nerve’ and actually enjoyed every single track from top to bottom. As you are all aware, this is a rare feat. The tracks I liked the most were ‘Spotlight’, ‘Backfire’, and ‘Electrify’.
As Wikipedia points out, lead vocalist Paul Meany stated this about their second album, ‘Our goal is to embarrass the first record, that's what we're trying to do here, and I think we're on point to pull it off.’ That being said, I did not go into the self titled album with as high of expectations. After a lucky find at Half Priced Books, I was pleasantly surprised the self-titled was actually just as good. Not top to bottom like ‘Armistice’, but my favorites were ‘Chaos’, ‘Typical’, and ‘Plan B.’
Suggested listening:
- Mutemath (2006)
- Armistice (2009)
I have heard MuteMath only on a couple occasions. I do remember whenever Thomas would play them I would ask who the band was. Usually that is a good sign from me, meaning I do have an interest. Let’s see if my interest stays intact.
ReplyDeleteThe first track is reminiscent of a DJ Shadow track for me, and not at all what I had in mind when I start the album. I like all the different techno/electronic sounds going on, and it kind of gives off a creepy vibe. It is a more sophisticated sound then I thought I was going to be hearing. “Typical” is one of the tracks I have heard before, and as the song starts off it reminds me a lot of something that U2 would have put out. From the guitars, to the anthem like singing done by Paul I can’t help but think of U2’s album “All that you can’t leave behind.” This song is very catchy and I could definitely seeing it having mainstream appeal. It is quite a stark contrast from the opening track, so I am intrigued to see where this album is going. “After we have left our homes” takes you off into a dream world, and once again you start hearing all sorts of different sounds. I really like this track and it leaves me wishing there was just a little more length to it. “Chaos” is not a real standout for me, and it kind of sounds more generic. Going into “Noticed” I am once again sucked in by the catchy tempo and I am starting to really enjoy Paul’s voice. It has a smoothness to it, and especially on this track he sounds a lot like Sting. I enjoy the fact that each song incorporates so many different layers of sound. “Plan B” was a skip over for me, it seemed a little too reminiscent of Kurt Cobain. “Stare at the Sun” was a nice slow track, and I am starting to think that the group wants to keep you on your toes as each track is quite different from the previous. “Obsolete” is another instrumental track, and I really like the piano and bass as the focal points to the track. It makes for some nice smooth filler in between songs. “Break the Same” has some nice lyrics, I particularly like when they say”, and everything we've built could be our demise it's the sticks and stones that wear us down that often save our lives.” “You are mine” is another great track, and even though it is simplistic, it is beautifully done. The next three tracks are all good as well, and I like the last track “Reset.” It has an almost apocalyptic feel to it. Overall with the exception of two or three tracks I really enjoyed this album. I will definitely want a copy of this album, now to see how the next one goes.
The first two tracks on “Armistice” were a little different for me. The first track reminded me of the group “Jet.” With the spoken word type lyrics, and even the more fast pace to the track it was not really what I was expecting. It isn’t until “Clipping” that I am back on board with the Mutemath I have come to enjoy. I love the edgy feel to it, but also the subtlety brought about by the piano. This song has a sort of epic feel to it for me, and I can see myself playing this track over and over again. Definitely one of my most favorite tracks yet. “Spotlight” is one that Thomas has played for me before, and I think having heard it on more than one occasion I can definitely say that this is a track that can grow on you. Paul’s voice has a nice tone to it, and it shows he can hit some higher octaves. “Pins and Needles” has a sort of Radiohead feel to it. I hope that Justin and David don’t chomp all over me for that comparison, as I know to compare any band to Radiohead is probably unheard of. However, the few Radiohead tracks I have heard remind me greatly of this song. I really liked this song, and thought the use of strings at the end of the song made a more meaningful impact. “Goodbye” is another good track that pulls me right in. The band does a great job at knowing how to hook you into their music, and it all flows into each other very well. The next three tracks are pretty solid as well, but not until “Lost Year” am I really pulled in again. I am sure it is the more melancholy side of me that always pulls me into the slower paced tracks. It has a nice atmospheric sound to it, and notice how as the song goes in they layer in all sorts of different sounds that would not be typical of your mainstream rock bands. This album was very solid for me as well, and I think I can definitely say I am a MuteMath fan now.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure at this point which album I liked more, although I may be slightly leaning toward the first album for now. This has been my favorite artist from Thomas thus far, and I am so glad I can add another new artist to my music collection. They definitely have a more sophisticated, unique, sound for a rock group and I think they have what it takes to create new and original music for many years to come.
I hope I’m listening to the right track list this week on Grooveshark. I had a dream earlier that I had it on my iPod but it turns out it was just a dream and I didn’t. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this week. From the name and Thomas’ track record, I figured there would be a lot of angry screaming. But then I read his description and I got confused.
ReplyDeleteUpon first listen, I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed “Typical.” It sounds like something I really would have been into in high school. I wasn’t just all gangsta rap, The Beatles and boy bands back then you know – this kind of music was my meat and potatoes. “Chaos” kind of went in a different direction, but I still like the lead singer’s voice. The rhyming seemed kind of cheesy for me. “Noticed” sounds familiar to me – I know I haven’t heard it again but it sounds similar to some track that I have… I can’t put my finger on it. “Plan B” takes the tempo down a notch. I really like the guitar riff that comes in there. Not a big fan of instrumentals, so “Polite” wasn’t my thing, and I wasn’t sure of “Obselete.” It was kind of dreamy sounding, but I’m not sure what its purpose is by repeating the lyrics “I stare at the sun.” That being said, the piano is intriguing. I could get into the instrumentals on this one. “You are Mine” is interesting… this guy is so all consumed with the one he loves, almost to an unhealthy level. At the same time, it’s kind of sweet and reassuring.
Overall, I think this album was accessible, and pretty strong. As far as Thomas’s picks have gone, I think I could get down with this more than the others. Whether it’s nostalgia for the feel of this kind of music, the lead singer’s voice or actual strength of the songs, this week started out a good one.
Moving onto “Armistice,” is almost seems like they’re moving into a direction I’m going to be less prone to liking. Still, strong points include the lead singer’s voice and the easy flow of the tracks. The chorus on “The Nerve” is a little nerve wracking, but no biggie. I like the clapping and energy on the second track of this album. “Spotlight” is a much stronger track I could listen to again. “Pins and Needles” is almost pretty at one point, not what I expected, with the focus on lyrics and emotion here. “Odds” is different because of its beat count – I like that they’re switching things up here, although I’m not really that fond of the track. I found myself tapping my fingers to “Electricity.” More clapping fun on “Armistice,” although again, not really a big fan. “Lost Year” was a favorite track for me this week with its sweet sincerity. In the end, I’m not really sure which album I liked better. I didn’t feel like the band changed much from one album to the next, and that both remain pretty solid efforts. I could get into this. Wonder what they’ll come out with next.
ReplyDeleteI just read Beth's comments and we are very much on the same page this week. Nice Jet reference! Exactly what I was thinking - I just couldn't get it to come out right.
ReplyDeleteI remember wandering around Thursday night at Bonnaroo 2006 trying to find the tent that the National were playing at and walking up on the Mutemath show and their excited fans, and David saying that this is definitely not the National. I know they have a Christian fanbase and I’ve heard “Typical” performed on American Idol so I’m intrigued by what Thomas calls his “sophisticated” selection for this week.
ReplyDelete“Collapse” is dope, very militant but the beat is begging for a verse from Mos Def or Kanye West; I played it on repeat for a good 5 minutes. To go from that to “Typical” is a little strange because where “Collapse” is dark and atmospheric, “Typical” is very straightforward radio-friendly pop. The rolling drums and bass on “Noticed” are a great take on the 80’s anthems from the likes of Crowded House or A-ha, the lyrics are a little corny but it’s very catchy and fun. “Obsolete” is a shining moment for the group as they sprawl out on this track; Roy’s bass has been a standout for me on this album, he heads up this jazz-infused journey that incorporates psychedelic with downtempo. Some of these guys have to be classically trained; there is a discipline to their playing that is quite evident on this track. “Control” reminds me very much of their Christian-rock brethren Switchfoot as Paul’s crisp vocals lead up to a rocking chorus. My favorite tracks are the instrumental ones, like the albums closer “Reset”; the finale weaves through electronic glitches and what sounds to be a mixture of live and programmed drums. It’s a fully conceived composition that develops a spacey sound but never meanders too far. Mutemath definitely understand who their demographic is, but instead of pandering, they create music on their own terms; and musical integrity is very important. I enjoyed this first album.
After the first few tracks of Armistice only one word is coming to mind, boring. Their self-titled album walked the tightrope of commercial viability with creative liberties that proved to be a great mix. This album has zero personality and stifles any creative spark that the band flashed earlier. Every song is predictable and leads right into next one; the guitar riffs are very rigid and never get a chance to explore. “Pins and Needles” is the first track that actually warrants my attention due to the minimal, electronic drum-driven beat very reminiscent of anything post Kid A Radiohead. The line Paul sings about growing fond of broken people because he sees himself as one of them, is one the best lyrics I’ve heard all week. “Odds” is uncannily similar to the beginning of Avett Bros. “Paranoia in B Major”, go back and listen to the first 25 seconds of each and tell me I’m crazy. The albums self-titled track actually shows some life with a New Orleans inspired horn section that feels like a party in the French Quarters. There are flashes of musical freedom on “Burden” but it is too little and too late for what is a poor showing from a band that has way more to show us.
ReplyDeleteMy only exposure to Mutemath prior to this week was that 2 minutes or so that I saw that at Bonnaroo in 2007 while looking for The National. With that in mind, I had no idea of what to expect when first listening to their debut album, but was immediately taken in by the amazing opening track. For an intro, it has a great atmosphere to it, and the drumming sounds really similar to some glitch electronic producers (not to mention the opening track on Bjork's album 'Homogenic', called "Hunter".) From there, "Typical" brings on the rock, and the vocals instantly remind me of some mid-to-late 90's alternative bands, such as Filter, especially when he gets a little louder. There's a heavy radio sound to it, but the band is a little more intelligent with their drumming, and to me it's what sets this album apart from a lot of the similar music that's out there. When I first heard "Noticed", I realized that I had actually heard the song somewhere before, although I honestly have no idea where. The fast-paced rhythm section allows the song to work pretty well, and despite it's pretty standard fare lyricism, it isn't a bad song at all. "Stare at the Sun" brings in a few more glitch elements, and once again brings a little more sophistication to what might otherwise be a pretty generic song. There's a pretty strong space-rock element to this album, and it's one I like pretty well. "Obsolete" is far and away the best track on the album. The mixture of all of the instruments, from the up-front bass line, to the U2-esque guitars, to the jazz-like drumming work together perfectly to create a really great instrumental track. This is exactly the kind of music that this band should be making, and if they were to stick with this sound, I would be completely on board. I just noticed that it seems there are a few different versions of this album...the closer "Reset" that Justin and Beth wrote about is nowhere to be found on the version that I have, and after looking at rateyourmusic.com, it seems that I have the regular version, as opposed to a digipack version of the album, which has several different songs, and an overall different tracklist. "Picture" is another pretty great song, as it has a huge U2/Interpol atmospheric feel to it, and when listening in my expensive headphones it feels like the sound is stretching on forever. Overall on the album, the vocals are really pretty MOR, but the talents of the rest of the band make this a really intriguing listen. This was definitely one of my favorite albums chosen by Thomas.
ReplyDelete'Mute Math' Album Rating: 65%
With 'Armistice', Mutemath have seemingly done away with everything that I enjoyed from the first album. There's nothing at all positive I can say about the first few songs..."Clipping" especially is a song I just couldn't get into no matter how hard I would try. It sounds almost like Paul Meany was trying to sound like a pop singer...but failing miserably. "Spotlight" starts to bring things back closer to the sound from their debut, and I couldn't be more thankful for it, even though they've taken the sound of the first album and made it even more generic. The vocals on "No Response" at times sound amazingly like those from a band I really like called Pinback, so much so that it almost made me think it was a different vocalist. I can sorta see the Radiohead comparisons that are being made with "Pins and Needles", although the rhythm is too standard to really be Radiohead. (By the way, Radiohead is going to be my next pick, so be ready.) "Goodbye" has some really nice angular sounding guitars, and it seems like the album has really begun to pick up a bit. However, from there on, the mid-album spike is over. Hardly anything stands out to me, and I very rarely think music is boring....but the last part of this album is definitely bordering on it. "Burden" is at least a little more interesting than what came before it, but it's still not enough to save what seems to be an album from a band that's struggling to find it's sound. It seems that the sophomore slump hit Mutemath really hard, but the goodwill they left in me from the first album is enough to have me interested to see whether they can overcome this one.
ReplyDelete'Armistice' Album Rating: 39%