Through their dizzying dance beats, upbeat electric tempos and sing-along gang vocals, Omaha’s Tilly and the Wall will have fans gasping, O! in excitement for the group’s third studio album.
Tilly’s third, but untitled album has adoringly been given the name of O by fans in honor of the group’s hometown and the cutout shape of the album artwork, which will feature several covers made by different artists. The idea for the artwork reflects a lot of what gives Tilly their uniqueness. Although the artwork on the covers change, there is still a commonality in the cutout shape of the O much like Tilly’s sound on this record shows some change from their previous releases, but at its root, the construction that makes them distinct is still there. The percussive tap, the build-up to a shouted chorus and the lyrics about love and nature are all still present in full force, but the group also takes a more experimental step with a darker, electronic and more brooding tone on songs.
The album opens much like the previous albums with an acoustic guitar and smooth female harmonies drifting over the guitar. “Tall Tall Grass,†however, is uncharacteristic of the band because it lacks the defining tap and urgent tempo found on many of their tracks. As charming as this opener is, it is easily forgettable the second the group’s single, “Pot Kettle Black†stomps in with a loud, sizzling hiss.
Following “Pot Kettle Black†is the brilliantly expressive “Cacophony†which has the best harmonies heard on the album in addition to a haunting melody. When they vocally descend in the line “I see the tear roll down your cheek†to mirror the movement of the tear, the genius of it is enough to make you want to cry with glee.
The Cure sounding “Falling Without Knowing†showcases the band’s new-found fascination with electronica and pairs it with soaring vocals. Ironically, the track that follows and shares its name with a Cure album doesn’t sound like anything from Robert Smith’s catalogue.
From the fun, twisted duet of “Jumbler†to the creeping darkness of “Dust Me Off†to the no-nonsense attitude of “Too Excited,†this new album covers a spectrum of emotions and styles proving that Conor Oberst isn’t the only musician worth knowing from Nebraska.
Released by Team Love on June 17, 2008.
Tracklisting:
1. Tall Tall Grass
2. Pot Kettle Black
3. Cacophony
4. I Found you
5. Jumbler
6. Chandelier
7. Dust Me Off
8. Falling Without Knowing
9. Blood Flowers
10. Poor Man’s Ice Cream
11. Too Excited
Tour Dates:
Jul 04 @ Richard on Richards/Vancouver, BC
Jul 05 @ Neumo’s/ Seattle, WA
Jul 08 @ Great American Music Hall/San Francisco, CA
Jul 10 @ Echoplex/Los Angeles, CA
Jul 11 @ Modified/Phoenix, AZ
Jul 13 @ Club Congress /Tucson, AZ
Jul 16 @ Granada/ Dallas, TX
Jul 17 @ Emo’s/Austin, TX
Jul 19 @ One Eyed Jack’s/New Orleans, LA
Jul 22 @ The Social/Orlando, FL
Jul 24 @ Variety Playhouse/Atlanta, GA
Jul 25 @ Cat’s Cradle/Carrboro, NC
Jul 26 @ Black Cat/Washington, DC
Jul 27 @ First Unitarian Church/Philadelphia, PA
Jul 29 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg/Brooklyn, NY
Jul 30 @ Bowery Ballroom/New York, NY
Jul 31 @ Paradise/Boston, MA
Aug 02 @ Mod Club/Toronto, Ont
Aug 03 @ Hartwood Acres/Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 06 @ Abbey Pub/Chicago, IL
Aug 07 @ Sokol Auditorium/Omaha, NE
Tilly and the Wall: website | myspace
Saddle Creek Records: website | myspace
* Written by Bethany
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