 "Photo:")
Thorin: For those unaware, Make Believe consists of the Kinsella brothers, who have received acclaim in such groups as Cap'n Jazz, Joan of Arc and Owls. Now that that's out of the way, it can be officially stated that Make Believe is a revival of Owls more so than a continuation of Joan of Arc. It's jangled, King Crimson inspired awkward rock 'n' roll throws around sounds that are generally unfamiliar to the human ear and offers a conundrum of confusing resonance.
Trevor: This also brings the Owls record to mind because both were recorded by indie-icon Steve Albini (his own bands Big Black and Shellac have been of influence as well). It's great in that Albini way: warm, up front, no frills and you can always hear the sound of the band in the actual room they're playing in instead of some imaginary digital vacuum.
Thorin: That's true. The recording here is fresh (in a retro sort of way). Guitar player Sam Zurick feasts upon erratic guitar shifts and gauche, resonating licks that if I was in Los Angeles I may refer to as "shred," but being here in Colorado I would probably prefer to call "mince," because is sounds more intelligent. Tim Kinsella's trademark tongue-tied, stuttering enthusiasm is present here as well; tracks like "Say What You Mean," and "Television Cemetery" are almost erupting with twitching outbursts by the vocalist, who has revealed himself to be a little tripped up when it comes to live performances. Listening to Shock of Being invokes him standing on stage, making odd, nonsensical jokes before shuddering his way through another song to a tune that may or may not be present in the song.
Trevor: It is probably Zurick's guitar playing that keeps this from being Owls with another name. Whereas Owls rested on off time, finger picked guitar lines that were often echoed on top of themselves in a flowing rhythmic independence, Make Believe guitar playing consists more of sparse, hard defined syncopations that push against the drumming instead of drifting away from it.
Thorin: Do you think that since you're a guitar player you must know everything? Shit man, stop dropping that lingo on my ass.
Trevor: On that note, the craziest lingo is Kinsella's. Tim Kinsella is offering more post-modern lyrics, which could be called stream of conscious, but where that conscious lies, is hard to say. With Owls we had lines like "My integrity and tennis shoes?/The combs would know a gorgon before the mirror." Make Believe competes with such brain busters as "Bananamoon/ Swallow my throat/ Octopus flower/ Buffalo wing goat." Somehow even at his most obscure a listener still feels like he can access the heart of the Kinsella's lyrics. Kinsella has perfected his art of missing his notes as often as hitting them, which always points to the human on the microphone. And he does with vigor, as he drops his own lingo on your ass.
Thorin: It's almost as though he's watched Schizopolis too many times and has decided to repeat the words of Elmo Oxygen. It brings Tim Kinsella back from the electronic underworld and into a pair of nice rock pants.
Trevor: This album should lend itself to a great live show. It will be fun to see the band navigate the complex and hypnotic time signatures. The idea of seeing Tim Kinsella deliver some of these vocals is equally fascinating, one could imagine him wearing strange costumes, getting naked or maybe never addressing the audience once.
Thorin: It's a live show worth seeing, the Zurick is, what is it you Guitar Center dorks say? "Wicked, he's a fucking wizard."
Tervor: I'm not sure how many Guitar Center employees will be there, but I will. I'm sure Thorin and his opinion will be there too. Hopefully there will still be room to stand in front.
Be the first to comment on this article!