Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
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Free Music Notes for The Flying Club Cup
Free Music Review: Beirut has done it again!
Hit: 5 Stars
I was very much looking forward to this album, since I couldn't get enough of Gulag and Lon Gisland, and even with all of my great expectations I am absolutely delighted with the Flying Club Cup. The music behind Zach's fall-in-love-with-me voice is so complex and rich that Beirut can hardly be called a band - it is an orchestra. Where else can you find such instruments as the harpsichord, glockenspiel, accordion, ukulele, and others that you simply don't hear much nowadays (unless you look!)? Check out this album's website to see videos of all of the songs - you won't be disappointed. They really look like they're having fun playing these incredible songs (on one they even use a watermelon as an instrument). The sheer imagination and creativity of Zach Condon and company take this new album a long way in my book, but the beautiful melodies and Condon's haunting voice truly make this a success.Free Music Review: intoxicating!!
Hit: 5 Stars
BUY this cd!!! The brass alone are worth the purchase. You will not find a skipable track, and no, Beirut does not sound like Arcade Fire at all. Although the genius use of instruments might be the same, the feel of this cd is not the same. The Flying Club Cup is like a nice stroll down the streets of Prague or Nimes, without having to stop and ask for directions.Free Music Review: It is catchy, but...
Hit: 3 Stars
There have been quite a few cases of indie bands and projects just kind of "throwing" their debut album out there, not knowing what to expect; just to see what happens. And, *gasp* people love it! Pitchfork gives the debut if not a 8/10, then at least a mostly positive review. The band goes on tour, the vast majority of people enjoy their live show. Some time passes and it is the turn for the band to record a follow up album. Their opportunities in the studio have now expanded from the profits made via album sales and shows. The big challenge here is to skillfully shift their sound forward. Beirut's situation is one example of all this.
I thought the "Gulag Orkestar" was a very good album. It definitely had something new to offer to the circuits of independent music. "The Flying Club Cup" is an attempt to take the sound of Orkestar to the next level and apply a new concept to it. All I have to say is that I didn't find anything impressive about "The Flying Club Cup". Absolutely nothing new here. It in fact reminded me a lot of the soundtrack to Amelie. I can also hear way too much digital editing done to tracks here, all in all making it sound too "plastic", especially for the type of instruments used in these songs. The sound of TFCC does not "breathe" due to being way too polished. The instruments that guys from Beirut play need to sound raw and much more alive. Tow Waits, for example, records his albums from one take for that very reason.
Some songs on TFCC have nice melodies like "Nantes", "La Banlieue", "Cliquot". Other than that, songs are "too carefully" written and constructed, as if Zach Condon was afraid to try something completely different from "Gulag Orkestar". It's a nice album to listen to occasionally, but the catchiness of it dies away quite quickly.
Free Music Review: Incredible album, amazing videos
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is just beautiful: tender, fresh, surprising, original, stirring. My wife saw them live last week and I only wish I could have gone, too! For a wonderful taste of the songs, visit the album website (http://flyingclubcup.com/spip.php?rubrique1), which has live videos crafted by La Blogotheque and featuring the band (principally 20 year old singer and songwriter Zach Condon) in incredibly simple yet mysteriously beautiful settings, most if not all in Brooklyn. The first track/video Nantes has the camera following him down the seemingly unending stairs of a fabulous semi-abandoned industrial building as his voice drifts in and out and various musicians appear at various points on the stairwell. Magical.Free Music Review: Still Brilliant
Hit: 5 Stars
If you're first hearing about Beirut because of this album, please, do yourself a favor and buy the others. I hesitantly bought this album, worried that the brilliance of the first would not continue...you know, the whole second album slump thing. But when I heard Nantes (track two), I was pleasantly suprised. After listening to the album numerous times, purchasing it electronically, and then actually buying the physical album (Gasp!), all I can say is I can't wait for the next one to come out.