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There seems to have been a plethora of “experimental rock” releases in recent months - Menomena, Okkervil River and Caribou spring to mind. Now New York based band Liars have added their own name to the list, with their self titled fourth album.
The Liars have been renowned for the disparity in styles between each of their releases. What strikes you with this latest offering, is the vastness of the musical landscape that they try to squeeze into the eleven tracks. Inevitably this is where the success or failure of the album lies. Unfortunately in this case, you get some gems, but ultimately you are left with the memory of a number of duds and a wholly disjointed album.
So, the gems? Well, lead single ‘Plaster Casts of Everything’ is a fine slice of angry rock, expounding a pulsing riff that demands to be played loud. Then we have ‘Sailing to Byzantium’, which is everything that ‘Plaster Casts’ isn’t. This track sends the listener into wide, open, atmospheric spaces – ambient effects wash over hazy vocals on a song that is a world away from the albums other personalities. ‘Freak Out’ then gives us a two and a half minute exercise in how to sound like The Jesus and Mary Chain – and not a bad effort at that.
As for the duds? Let’s just say there are quite a few, where the industrial beats and unstructured verses are just too dense – never allowing anything of value to rise above the murk....
To wrap it up, this is one of those albums where the whole is definitely not greater than the sum of the parts. If the Liars could just tighten up their creative zeal – they’ve probably got a fantastic album in them, but this ain’t it.
Essential Tracks
Plaster Casts of Everything
Sailing to Byzantium
Freak Out
Full Track Listing
1. Plaster Casts of Everything (3:56)
2. Houseclouds (3:21)
3. Leather Prowler (4:25)
4. Sailing to Byzantium (4:02)
5. What Would They Know (3:11)
6. Cycle Time (2:16)
7. Freak Out (2:30)
8. Pure Unevil (3:52)
9. Clear Island (2:38)
10. The Dumb in the Rain (4:21)
11. Protection (4:30)
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