Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line Review
First Impressions of Ra Ra Riot's debut The Rhumb Line
Any time a band releases its debut LP, which features songs from their early EPs, I always fear that something will be lost in the process. For some strange reason, that first time you hear a song and latch onto it, no other version (whether it's a re-release or someone's cover) can compare to that initial feeling when the hair on your neck stood straight. I'm not sure if the new versions of these songs are entirely that bad (in fact, a lot of times they're cleaner tracks with better recording), they just lose that raw, elemental quality. Take Cold War Kids for instance: when I first got my hands on their 3 EPs (Mulberry Street, With Our Wallets Full, and Up In Rags), I spun those albums incessantly. So when the band finally signed with Downtown and released Robbers & Cowards, I felt that the newer versions lacked the gritty and turbulent sound that characterizes a CWK live show. Don't get me wrong, R&C is a fantastic debut, I just prefer the EPs.
With Ra Ra Riot, however, polish and shine have done wonders to the sound of this Syracuse sextet. Ra Ra Riot's complex and layered orchestral arrangements, which were sometimes hidden on their EP, are truly enhanced with this studio recording. And versions from the EP sound better - you can hear the confidence in these growing musicians... Sadly, though, you can also hear the weight of the band's tragic loss bearing over the new songs:"Dying Is Fine", when first released before John Pike's death, was a bouncy pop song - a fun spin on a sad subject; however, on The Rhumb Line, the newer version of the song has taken on a much darker tone. Nevertheless, on first listen the band seems to have hit its stride. Newer songs like "Oh La", "St. Peter's Day Festival", and "Winter '05" (to name a few) are nice additions to the band's catalog. A pleasant surprise for my ears actually came with the Kate Bush cover, "Suspended in Gaffa".
Take a listen for yourself:
"Oh La"
"Suspended in Gaffa"
"Dying Is Fine"
My prediction: with the positive 4 star review due out in Rolling Stone's next issue, I expect this band to blow up on the college scene (much like we saw with Ra Ra Riot's best friends, Vampire Weekend, after they had their debut release).
If you haven't done so already, go pre-order yourself a copy at Insound... act quickly and receive a free 7" single on blue vinyl!
And if you're in Seattle, check out Ra Ra Riot September 20 at Capitol Hill's newest venue, King Cobra.
With Ra Ra Riot, however, polish and shine have done wonders to the sound of this Syracuse sextet. Ra Ra Riot's complex and layered orchestral arrangements, which were sometimes hidden on their EP, are truly enhanced with this studio recording. And versions from the EP sound better - you can hear the confidence in these growing musicians... Sadly, though, you can also hear the weight of the band's tragic loss bearing over the new songs:"Dying Is Fine", when first released before John Pike's death, was a bouncy pop song - a fun spin on a sad subject; however, on The Rhumb Line, the newer version of the song has taken on a much darker tone. Nevertheless, on first listen the band seems to have hit its stride. Newer songs like "Oh La", "St. Peter's Day Festival", and "Winter '05" (to name a few) are nice additions to the band's catalog. A pleasant surprise for my ears actually came with the Kate Bush cover, "Suspended in Gaffa".
Take a listen for yourself:
"Dying Is Fine"
My prediction: with the positive 4 star review due out in Rolling Stone's next issue, I expect this band to blow up on the college scene (much like we saw with Ra Ra Riot's best friends, Vampire Weekend, after they had their debut release).
If you haven't done so already, go pre-order yourself a copy at Insound... act quickly and receive a free 7" single on blue vinyl!
And if you're in Seattle, check out Ra Ra Riot September 20 at Capitol Hill's newest venue, King Cobra.
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