|  Wednesday, October 15, 2008
im from barcelona
who killed harry houdini?
  
|
If there was an award for the 2nd catchiest song titled "Paper Planes" released within the last year, it'd hands down go to this group. I'm From Barcelona are a 29+ member band (!) counter intuitively hailing from Jnkping, Sweden. Led by songwriter Emanuel Lundgren, the bands' latest offering Who Killed Harry Houdini? (Mute) is a goldmine of indie pop paradigms - vibrant instrumentation underneath intelligent, poppy verses interspersing grandiosely memorable choruses. With the manpower of a small nation, I'm From Barcelona are able to cover miles and miles of terrain across the musical spectrum with astonishing charisma and dexterity. In that regard Who Killed Harry Houdini? is the bands' own rewrite of the indie pop guidebook - only this time, its contributions are written with 29 different shades of glitter pen.
The opening track "Andy" is an orchestra of rich indie instrumentation that blends into the pop stomp mastery and booming chorus of "Paper Planes." "Headphones" is a mandolin driven pop crescendo complete with xylophones and mandolin strums reminiscent of Architecture in Helsinki. "Gunheld" demonstrates the bands' agility as it tackles slower, Broken Social Scene style balladry with finesse and careful attention to detail. "Mingus" is another pop standout that incorporates handclap breeziness to the bands' symphonic wall, showcasing the bands' pop sensibilities against their backdrop of talent.
Overall Who Killed Harry Houdini? is a wonderfully executed crash course in colorful, indie-pop wizardry. I'm From Barcelona have demonstrated a real mastery of their musical armament, and in doing so have not only rewritten their potential, but have crafted one of the better albums of 2008. - chris gayomaliShare To:       |
|
Reviews:
By Band:
A B C D E F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T
U V W X Y Z
By Date:
March, 2010
February, 2010
January, 2010
December, 2009
November, 2009
October, 2009
September, 2009
August, 2009
July, 2009
June, 2009
May, 2009
April, 2009
March, 2009
February, 2009
January, 2009
December, 2008
November, 2008
October, 2008
September, 2008
August, 2008
July, 2008
June, 2008
May, 2008
April, 2008
March, 2008
February, 2008
January, 2008
December, 2007
November, 2007
October, 2007
September, 2007
August, 2007
July, 2007
June, 2007
May, 2007
April, 2007
March, 2007
February, 2007
January, 2007
antlers
hospice
zaza
Cameo EP
matisyahu
light
|
