“Yadnus”
from the album Myth Takes
2007
iTunes
MP3 – “Yadnus” [right-click/save-as]
Get ready to groove to the beat. The octet known as !!! (commonly pronounced “chk chk chk”) are still making songs to dance to, but the band’s dance-punk influences have taken a backseat to funkier rhythms on their latest album Myth Takes.
While there are still political overtones present, on the whole, Myth Takes seems less confrontational and aggressive than previous albums, instead adopting tunes that have more universal hip-shaking appeal. The result: Even more dancable anthems.
“Must Be the Moon” has a heavy bass line and subtle electronica elements that make it the ideal track to spin at a club, perfect since the song is a narrative account of a one-night stand after a night out. The title track, with its hushed vocals and steady beats, would be at home as the sound track for an underground hipster den.
!!! tastefully creates dance music that even those who do not enjoy the genre can appreciate due to the band’s catchy electronic beats. However, unlike previous releases Myth Takes stands out less and has nothing really new to offer.
The album is mostly redundant; some tracks sound like they could have been created by another band in the same genre. “Sweet Life” channels LCD Soundsystem a little too much, and while both bands share some members, other tracks on the album show that both groups have the potential to display two distinct sounds. “A New Name” sounds like any number of songs circa 1985. Even the electronica elements couldn’t bring this track into the modern day.
Although each track on Myth Takes is definitely full of pop hooks, the album lacks a cohesive collective sound. “All My Heroes are Weirdos” is full of manic energy, with its psychedelic guitar licks and crazed drum sounds. However, on a completely different spectrum, “Infinifold” is a slow ballad that is out of place among the other beat-driven tracks.
And if the variance between those two wasn’t enough, “Yadnus” is a ’70s rock song with a little Cure thrown in. It’s almost as if !!! took advantage of the fact that its music is often labeled as experimental on this album, and the band used any song it could create on the album regardless if it flowed well or not.
Unfortunately, this makes Myth Takes the musical equivalent of a roller coaster, but instead of being a smooth ride, the changes can be hard to handle and more than a little nauseating.
Still, with Myth Takes, !!! has released quality sounds for the masses. If you’re not dancing already, it’s time to get back on the floor.