TUNE-YARDS

WhoKill

2011-04-25

For Tune-Yards’ second release, Merrill Garbus has gone a bit Lo-Fi. Not that WhoKill doesn’t have its share of samples, effects, and tribal beats. There are also plenty of straight up vocals, displaying Ms. Garbus’ awesome range. She can go from guttural rapping (“Gangsta”), to pop chanteuse (“Wooly Wolly Gong”), to something akin to Bjork (“You Yes You”)...sometimes all in one song (“Powa”). All this is backed by interesting, often home-made instrumentation. Songs often seem patched together, but it doesn’t seem to be detrimental...indeed it works to advantage. While WhoKill is intriguing and somewhat eccentric, it doesn’t quite measure up to Tune-yards’ esoteric first release, Birdbrains, an album that I liked immensely. Rebecca Ruth

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 10/2014

    PRIMUS
    and the Chocolate Factory

  • reviewed 01/2012

    ONWARD, SOLDIERS
    Monsters

  • reviewed 02/2014

    Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band
    Take Me to the Land of Hell

  • reviewed 09/2008

    Okkervil River
    - The Stand-Ins

  • reviewed 11/2008

    ASHTON ALLEN
    Wellspring

  • reviewed 02/2008

    American Music Club
    The Golden Age

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.