Day 9, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below

Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zero’s put out an album this year called Up From Below . I know nothing about these guys, as has been the case for most of these bands so far, which has been a massive detriment to my credibility during all of these reviews. But isn’t that sort of the reason this is exciting?

This group is interesting, perhaps not because they are innovators, but maybe because the way they play with musical familiarities: traditional instrumentation but made to sound distant and archaic at times, vocals with many back-up singers that can sometimes sound like an entire chorus of college students, retro sounding recordings but still deeply layered. You know they are talented musicians (sick little piano fill between track one and two) but they don’t use their technique for anything other than to promote the melody and over-all sound. They very song-driven, with very few out-standing noises, blips, trickles, or spazes.

Nine out of twelve songs (I have the Bonus Track version—don’t know what the difference is) have a seriously emphasized 2 and 4 down beat. The other three are a waltz and two folky tunes, and they don’t stress any beat that hard at all. And you notice this change. “Black Water,” “Simplest Love” and “Brother” are good songs and have their purpose on the album, but the whole machine sort of skips gears and jerks when they come on. But this is only a testament to Up From Below’s awesome power throughout. And this is not the sort of drive you get from fast drums or heavy guitars, but from this emphatic down beat and catchy melodies.

For the most part, Up From Below is an absolute pleasure. In fact, I got a little upset when my Bay Ridge bound R train pulled up to my stop at Prospect Ave. Take, “Home” for example. The song is so goddamn endearing. Four chord verse and chorus, another four chords for the instrumental bridge, powerful horns, repeating chorus about love and contentment, girl and boy trading love stories about each other. You will be stomping your foot and hugging your neighbor in no time. And it has this chorus that you never want to stop repeating.

Generally, I think they are most successful with their joyous songs, such as “Home,” or “Carries On,” but their only groovy song “Come in Please” is actually pretty hot, although there is nothing else on the album like it. But don't get me wrong, this is not all sunshine and rainbows, just check out "Babylon Kisses."