It's been just two years since As Tall As Lions released their self-titled album and after a myriad of problems, including a near breakup and various producer changes, they've returned with You Can't Take It With You. Let me begin with the fact that I enjoyed their last album... in small doses. ATAL has a tendency to meander and to take their time reaching the destinations that they've set out to reach, but nonetheless, they make the slow journey in graceful, pleasant strides.
It seems, after hearing You Can't Take It With You, that As Tall As Lions probably believe that they're breaking new ground with this album but I'd have to disagree with them. While it certainly is 'artsy', which seems to be their forte, it's not very far off from the self-titled album. The intro track "Circles" jumps to a start with a tribal drum pattern and progresses to an upbeat, bassline powered verse which is actually quite good. The song maintains its power and push throughout and is probably, in my opinion, the best song on the entire album. Vocalist, Dan Nigro, displays his powerful voice and impressive range on "Sixes and Sevens", while the band retains the momentum from "Circles" with a shaker and glockenspiel rhythm section.
While the production of this album is, for a lack of a better word, flawless, at times it kind of feels as if As Tall As Lions drank a case of cough medicine and went running through an idea factory, haphazardly grabbing anything off of the shelves that they could manage to find in their enhanced state of mind and throwing it into the shaky, missing-a-wheel cart that is You Can't Take it With You. With styles of percussion that range from a working-man jamming in his garage to Don Quixote seducing senoritas, it gets a little confusing at times.
Article comments