The Rhumb Line
Written by gzabriel on Thursday, 21 of August , 2008 at 12:14 pm
I’ve been a fan of Ra Ra Riot since their EP’s debut last year. Something about the strings, the mood, and the subtle infectiousness of their songs got to me. The Rhumb Line marks Ra Ra Riot’s first full length and I’m doing the duty as a fan of reviewing it.
The album opens with a sense of urgency, “Ghost Under Rocks” a favorite from the EP sounds more menacing and pained. The strings almost seem devilish, lulling you in before they strike and stab you in the face with their spiked bows of animosity. The whole song carries a very haunting atmosphere which seems distilled from its first incarnation on the EP.
After the powerful opener Ra Ra Riot lays back and delivers another favorite in the shape of “Each Year”. I have to say I’m partial to the RAC remix of the tune but the original is splendid none the less.
The album moves on into St. Peter’s Day Festival, a song I had only heard in their live WOXY sessions. The song feels a bit off balance appearing so soon after two numbers so close to hearts by now. The song tries to endear itself by giving all of the Ra Ra Rioty goodness that Ra Ra Riot can. Lyrics like “C’mon c’mon let us in” pave the way for acceptance and by the end of the 3:36 duration St. Peter’s Day Festival has won me over.
“Winter ‘05″ begins with a very somber string section like the beginning of a shadowed symphony. The hihats begin to carry the song as the lyrics carry an aloof sense of sorrow. The song never dares to rise up, almost defeated, and then ends.
Suddenly “Dying Is Fine” breaks its way in. Another favorite from the EP which I expected to carry a more morbid tone since the seriously tragic death of Ra Ra Riot’s former drummer John Pike. I was wrong. The song is one of the most foot tapping, head bobbing ditties out of the pack. Still, I can’t help but feel a post mortem message and a little remorse in the lyrics “Death oh baby/You know that dying is fine but maybe/I wouldn’t like death if death were good”.
Another new song “Can You Tell” sounds familiar and even more at home once the drums and strings come in. This one is the most blatantly a love song for better or worse, and though it sounds like Ra Ra Riot it doesn’t strike home for me.
“Too Too Fast”, another new song, opens in the most unusual way so far with loud drums and a synth. Sounding more like their contemporaries (they did tour with Tokyo Police Club) the backing vocals of Too Too Too Fast and the upbeat chorus are sure to make this one a new favorite. It’s damn fun to hear strings so welcome in the upbeat bass+drums+guitar+synth combo. It’s damn fun.
“Oh, La” brings back Ra Ra Riot’s most folky sounds as if to reassure us that they still sound like themselves. The song is good but not them at their best, which is a bit sad since the chorus is pretty catchy. Alas.
“Suspended In Gaffa” brings a very circus like feel with the up and down nature of the song. Once again Ra Ra Riot succeeds at venturing a little bit out of bounds. The song, like the title, has a very suspended quality, almost acrobatic in its melody.
The final song in the 10 track album is “Run My Mouth” with a subject matter about “days ending too slow” and “where to go from here” the song reads like a meditation on the whole album and the future of Ra Ra Riot. As the song climaxes “when the only thing left to do is run my mouth” it lends a sober insight on the entire act of creativity. When there’s nothing left to do I guess the answer is to make a damn good album. RIP John Pike.
Ra Ra Riot - Ghost Under Rocks (mediafire)
Ra Ra Riot - Winter ‘05 (mediafire)
Ra Ra Riot - Too Too Too Fast (mediafire)
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Comment by Vinney
Made Thursday, 21 of August , 2008 at 4:12 pm
They’re awesome! Just bought their EP, thanks for the great review.
- Vinney
