Do Make Say Think – Other Truths (album review)
There are some bands I find it harder to be objective about, and I’ve come to be fairly okay with that decision. I know that over the course of their careers, they’ve earned a bit of leniency due to all the joy that they’ve given me, and while I would always like to be 100% pure objective as a reviewer, I know that’s impossible anyway, so the heck with it.
I originally discovered Do Make Say Think right about the time of their first self-titled album. The year was 1998 and I was really just diving into post rock music itself as it started to really explode with creativity. Each time the band put out an album, I liked them just a little bit more, and there’s something about their instrumental rock music that I find myself going back to quite a bit, even nowadays. To my ears, it’s aged better than some of the more ponderous stuff like their label-mates Godspeed You Black Emperor, and while they certainly use their fair share of effects, none of their albums are dated with glitchy effects or anything else that sounds particularly of an era.
Sure, there are drippings of jazz, touches of prog, ambient swaths, folky sing-alongs, and just about every other style you can think of, but I think that’s what has helped the group with their staying power to my ears. They create great music that can be serious at times, but they never take themselves too seriously. They allow some bum notes and whatever else to creep into the process. In other words, it’s very human.
Like several other albums that I’ve enjoyed lately, Other Truths spreads an albums worth of music out over just 4 tracks. While some post rock groups have opted for brevity, Do Make Say Think have gone the other direction, pouring out epics that change things up with their usual flourishes and roil through several style changes during their running length.
Other than the closer of “Think” (the four song titles take on the name of the group), which takes on much more of a come-down feel, all of the cuts here bob and weave and fold over both into themselves and one another (making for an entire album that flows smoothly). Opener “Do” is just as solid as any, chugging out of the gates with a multi-pronged guitar attack and some blistering riffs that morph slowly as effects and vocals enter the mix. About halfway through it all crescendos into a massive cloud of sound before winding down into a shimmering haze of ambience.
“Do” – Do Make Say Think
So really, if you’ve enjoyed past work from the group, you’re definitely not going to go wrong here. The hooks are plenty, the changes are clever, and the group packs plenty of twists and turns into 40 minutes.
On a side note, Constellation Records has stepped up with a unique offering for those that want a better physical experience with their music. While their CDs are still made in the nice chipboard packaging as usual, the label has stepped-up their vinyl editions to include beautiful exclusive prints along with each LP. A person ordering the digital version of the album from their site will receive the same print, which is a nice gesture in an age of non-tactile digital bits.
(buy Other Truths from amazon.com )
(buy Other Truths from Constellation Records )
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:14 am
Hey Aaron!! I totally agree and love this new album! Actually it’s one of my fave’s, but hey there is no dud in the DMST catalogue
Thanks for getting me hooked up with DMST, I first read about & Yet & Yet on ALMOSTCOOL and the review made me download and enjoy DMST!
Thanks!!!
*I’ve now seen them live three times and next week will be the fourth time*
Take Care
Elwin Rijken
November 11th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Yes – on my best of list too.
I’ve never seen them, but this is pretty cool:
http://www.vimeo.com/672123