Zero 7's third album, The Garden, is so diverse that it reminds me of one of those big, functional foster families I'll occasionally read about in People. Each of the 12 songs is completely different, much like members of a family - each with their own disabilities, but with their own positive attributes, too. And like members of a family who share some trait, whether it be religion or a sense of humor, each song is tied to the next - but with unorthodox, sometimes frilly, organic, hippy-like string.
Now, just because the album is diverse doesn't mean I like it. Zero 7, made up of Brit producers Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, made a risky move by painting each song a different color. Like many albums that don't have a set tone or voice, there will be some songs that are wonderful and there will be some songs that leave you bewildered or even embarassed that you've listened to them, which is what happened with this album.
Zero 7 snagged fans in the U.S. after "In the Waiting Line" was showcased on the much-loved 2004 Garden State soundtrack. They began their career creating remixes for "Climbing Up the Walls" by Radiohead and Terry Callier's "Love Theme from Spartacus." But eccentric, even psychedelic songs with vague lyrics won't be the duo's golden ticket for lasting success with the Yankees.
My favorite song of the album, "Throw It All Away," has a clear beat and deep, soulful vocals from Sia, a former background singer for Jamiroquai who has worked with Zero 7 in the past. A unique and effective change of pace occurs as her voice is paired with background vocals by Binns, who makes his singing debut on The Garden. It's easy and swingy, but as much as I like the song's tone, the ballad-like chorus makes me cringe. It's too bubbly, too girly, too Nelly Furtado.
Sia is a salvation to many of the songs; her voice has depth and adds character to the limp tunes. Her deep, sexpot pipes lead half the album's songs, which vary from fast-paced, Sneaker Pimpish "You're My Flame" to slow, ironic "Waiting to Die," a dark comedy of a song that pairs kooky "la dee das" with depressing lyrics ("la da da, cuz we're waiting here to die"). "The Pageant of the Bizarre" is another Sia-featured song, and I swear it's the same song from I Heart Huckabees or Amelie - that slow, carnival-like trumpety song. It's enjoyable until the chorus, which once again, makes me grit my teeth. It's an explosion of dreamy, cloying feminity: "Catch a falling star, you'll go far / In the pageant of the bizarre / And tonight I give you my heart."
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