SOUNDTRACK: THE DISTRICTS-Popular Manipulations (2017).
The Districts third full length sees a change in style and sound for the band. They are clearly still The Districts, but they are far less shambolic. Their sound is fuller, more complicated and less “sloppy.” They also keep things reigned in with the longest song here being under five minutes.
The band also plays off of Rob Grote’s higher notes with excellent backing vocals, especially on “If Before I Wake.” He sings the high notes while the someone else in the band sings a low counterpoint. The lead guitar brings a catchy melody to the song which is all about the propulsive bassline.
“Violet” is one of the catchiest thing they’ve done. From the chiming guitar sounds to Grote’s high pitched verses and smooth, catchy chorus, this song is marvelous. Even the quiet bridge is attention grabbing amid the thumping drums. But “Ordinary Day” tops “Violet” by having three separate catchy melodies in it. There’s an immediate melody in the vocal line at the top, a bridge that is instantly gripping and a chorus that plays perfectly off the angst of the bridge. Fantastic stuff.
“Salt” plays with a few different guitar sounds before hitting the catchy chorus. Then comes “Why Would I Wanna Be,” a shorter song (under three minutes) with acoustic guitar a and a echoing drum keeping a very fast pace. Spooky atmospheric sounds–keys? vocals? float through the song giving it a slightly warped feeling.
The catchiness comes back with the bouncy “Point,” a simple melody that resolves into a fun singalong chorus. “Airplane” sounds a bit more like their older style (all the way back to their last album), but updated and a bit more catchy (it’s amazing what a simple guitar riff can do for a song–in the beginning and in the lengthy one at he end). There’s also piano added on this track.
“Fat Kiddo” is the acoustic song–the guitar sounds great, but the song really takes off with the addition of the rumbling bass. It’s a nice slowdown before the faster “Capable,” with its cool opening guitar sound and riff.
“Rattling of the Heart” is a faster song that works as a nice segue to the finale “Will You Please Be Quiet Please?” which is pure Districts–the vocals are unmistakable and the sound of the song is catchy and distinctly them.
It’s great to see a band retain its sensibility while exploring new sounds.
[READ: September 30, 2020] “The Sand Banks, 1861”
This story feel like an excerpt because there seems like there should be a lot more. I’m not sure if it is or not.
The story is set in remote Roanoke in antebellum South.
An assortment of people stood on the peer looking at the oysters. Ebo Joe Meekins, the old Negro, “was either fifty or a thousand.”
There were six pre-teen boys, five colored and one white. The narrator’s name is Dick. He is one of the colored boys and is, in factor Master’s John B’s son. But not really his son.
Among isolated people, increasing your slave stock was as difficult as finding new blood for brides. Mulattoes were the result, open secrets.
The boys were friendly, if not friends, including Patrick, the white one. Patrick was Mass. John B’s nephew and he was willing to take chances. Instead of seeding the oysters in the oyster bed, he ate them. As John B. walked away Patrick mocked him, but Dick would never dare. (more…)
After having this concert postponed for technical reasons back in February, I was quite interested in seeing it in seeing the rescheduled production. So I’m pretty bummed that the whole tour has been cancelled.
I Just Read About That... 