Small Leaks Sink Ships - Face Yourself, and Remove Your Sandals
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After you listen to a track like "The Devil is in the Desert," off Small Leaks Sink Ships' Face Yourself, and Remove Your Sandals, you can be pretty sure this act isn't out to conquer top-40 radio. Then when sound effects introduce "Power Outage," you're 100% certain this is more about art than commerce. This act from Portland sings and plays well, but do so with a slightly off kilter artsy flair. This is why a song like "The Devil is in the Desert" ends with a sort of dirge-y piano outro and why "Power Outage" goes into an extended electric guitar middle section. Also, when you have two tracks ("Building Blocks" and "The Mind is it's Own Place") that clock in at over nine minutes - when the average pop song is usually closer to about three minutes - you just know you're not in radio land anymore.
This is the kind of music to listen to and meditate on, not play air guitar or dance to. It's good, but just be prepared for its unique vibe before listening.
Rating:
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