NW Reviews: Husky Rescue – Ship of Light
As I continue through this year I slowly realize that my reviews, per album, are becoming much like the scores from Olympic judges. I’m not saying I’m the international committee of indie music album reviews, but there are a few correlations. The biggest one is when I hear a great album from a certain type of genre and then it’s followed by a not-so-stellar album. It’s hard to be unbiased when a great album leaves a lasting impression of what other albums should strive to be. My friend Bryan explained to me once on how the scoring system works for gymnastics. I might butcher this, but out of a total ten points you are graded on difficulty, technique, and how “perfect” you perform your positions. So, let’s say someone does some great move… the difficulty is a 10 but because you suck at it you don’t get a full 10, so it drops to something like a 4. This is based off an exact idea and picture of what the move is supposed to look like, right? Music isn’t that way unfortunately, but when you hear an album that is a current “10″ then it’s hard to not compare albums to that measuring stick. Case and point, Husky Rescue.
If this album came out in January, I would be more into it than I am currently right now. The lo-fi, shoegaze-y, sad rock genre has a measuring stick. Efterklang. Meet or exceed that album and you got yourself “sitting pretty” on a scale of “forgettable to album of the year”. At the moment, Husky Rescue, not to be confused with the polar opposite Husker Du, is a scratch away from a scar, but Efterklang is the Neosporin covering up what could potentially be great.
It’s very easy to sit and listen and enjoy this album. The music itself seems to mix the current in-style minimal rock with a more instrumental vocal appearance than a lyrically forceful appearance (e.g. Husky Rescue vs. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs). From what I’ve heard from this type of music, the enjoyment comes more from the journey you put yourself in when this music is on. Whether you’re stoned out of your mind, at a party, having sex, or driving to work, this is mood setting music more than anything. And Husky Rescue spares no expense at putting you in your mood of choice. The music, simple but effective. The lyrics, catchy with a hook usually, and easily remembered for the most part. The album as a whole, fast if you get into it and long if you just want it playing in the background.
Efterklang did it better. I hate saying that to myself, since I don’t like taking anything away from an album if it wasn’t their fault… but it’s true. There’s a bar set, and there are still many many many different ways to impress or at least leave an impression. The impression left isn’t as pressing as Efterklang’s Magic Chairs. Is it Husky Rescue’s fault that their album isn’t as great as Efterklang’s? No. But could it have been? Potentially. And this is now the precedent I’ve set: best the better record and earn higher praise. If not, falter. As far as the album itself goes, the music drones out sometimes and loses some of the push each song usually comes in with. Other than the umphf factor being lost out, I feel that the vocals seem to be lost in the artsy ways of the music at times. Would love to hear more bump on the vocals.
People who would like this: people who like Efterklang, people who enjoy girl voices being sung over Sigur Ros sounding music, people who like uptempo sleeping music. Other people who would like this: people who enjoy hiking, people who enjoy naps, people who enjoy reading books from McSweeney’s.
Relay
