Clap Your Hands Say Zing.
"I get it now. David Byrne traded in the exploitation of Third World musicians for the old Thurston Moore School Of I Give My Seal Of Approval hat trick. Will someone please enlighten me as to how Byrne, who last produced a good record in 1980, has become a barometer by which quality and progress are measured? Logical thinkers should immediately shy away from bands that use a call to action as their moniker, especially ones trying to get already boring people (those who've fallen for this applesauce) to act "festive." Gotta love the trend that started some years back (thanks to the Make Up) of inciting dancing and faux-gospel behavior within a demographic that has always been more at home repeating, "So what've you been up to?" ad infinitum over the course of an evening. Nice carnival-barker intro on Clap Your Hands' self-titled debut. Is that a nod to Emerson Lake & Palmer? It sure would be funnier if it was. Should I mention that Clap Your Hands is from Brooklyn? Or that the band busts out ye olde mountainside instruments to distract from the reality that it is really no different than any other modern indie group lifting moves from the Talking Heads? In 2007, when the band has changed its name to Clap Your Hands Remember Us? and is paying David Cross $5 to be in its video, I'll love to say I told you so." --Andrew Earles, in the Jan/Feb 2006 issue of Magnet.
Comments
Lucky for those of us who love old Talking Heads and have to resort to listening to these "one-album wonders" for our fix of faux new Talking Heads sounds. Stellastarr*, Bloc Party, the Bravery... Keep them coming in old New Wave style, I say.
Posted by: Simon | March 9, 2006 9:20 AM
Reasons why this little write-up is embarassing...
1.I hope I find an organ on a mountainside!
What the fuck are you talking about? There are literally no instruments other than guitars, keyboards and drums on this record.
2. The Talking Heads comparison is lazy, and more importantly inaccurate.
3. The sole songwriter in this band is from Philadelphia, so saying they are from Brooklyn is inaccurate. You know, like how Dylan is from Canada. (not comparing him to Dylan).
4. This is pathetically, transparently a review of a review.
Posted by: Daniel | March 10, 2006 4:26 PM