Pale Young Gentlemen - Black Forest (Tra La La)

I enjoyed their self-released, self-titled album from last year, which got very favorable reviews from Stylus, Lost At Sea, Prefix, etc. Their orchestral folk pop stirred me enough to make my top 70 last year.

From what I've heard of the new album, it's a bit darker, with more teeth. Like Andrew Bird with Sixteen Horsepower. I hope to catch them at Schuba's this Sunday and pick up the new album. The 11 piece group of the album (with strings, french horn, xylophone, harp and flute) is pared down to a quintet for the tour. Looks like they're in Atlanta tonight. I hope it goes well for 'em.

Can't tell from the album cover, but in the expanded art on their page, there appear to be gnomes. I always felt there should be more gnomes in cover art.

http://www.paleyounggentlemen.com/images/websiteMAINPAGE.jpg

It was a great show. Schubas is a perfect venue for this kind of band -- great acoustics for the bass, guitar, drums, cello and violin. Autumnal music for a cool Sunday Fall evening. Not that they are nearly as dark and dirgey as Sixteen Horsepower. More like baroque pop with sharp teeth. I like how the arrangements are really tight. No needless vamping. More hooks, less noodles.

Canasta were a bit bigger, louder and excitable. Good vocals and harmonies, but the songs did drag on too long for me. Their musicianship was great, but I just didn't much like the songs. I got too bored and tired to last long enough to check out Bearsuit.

I did buy Black Forest (Tra La La) though. I'm listening to it now, and it's amazing. I hope it get's hyped like crazy, because it'll deserve all the praise it gets.

this sounds interesting.