Annuals release stellar debut
Published Oct. 24, 2006
Many in their late teens are in school, working or both. Though their parents brag about this, Adam Baker, at 20, is the lead singer, songwriter and composer of the rapidly emerging Annuals — now that's something worth talking about.
Baker was 19 when he laid down the meat of Be He Me, an album that slides across numerous genres — most times within one song. Annuals has been compared to typical indie touchstones Animal Collective and Arcade Fire, but those comparisons are both lazy and restrictive.
If Annuals can be compared to anyone, it follows in the footsteps of slop-pop bands of the moment like Grizzly Bear and Evangelicals. But on Be He Me, Annuals leaves Shaquille O'Neal-sized tracks next to those other bands' size 12s.
And where those bands sometimes falter in either sluggishness or inconsistency, Annuals finds a balance between mushroom psychedelics and pop.
The reason Annuals became a household name in the blogosphere (and why we're probably reviewing this album in the first place) is Be He Me's explosive opener and the Internet's wet dream, "Brother."
"Brother" opens inconspicuously with the sound of a stream running and bugs droning before it gives way to an acoustic guitar and silky strings. The song's first half is delicate and beautiful with its murmur, but the payoff comes halfway through when all gives way to a seismic-registering guitar and bass drum barrage that buries everything in its wake.
But where this could become rock for the sake of "look-what-we-can-do," Baker eventually lets up to allow clearer guitar and string parts through showcasing his mastery of orchestration. It ends with another 20 seconds of nature sounds — just enough time to pick your jaw off the ground.
"Brother" is the must-hear song of the album, and maybe the year. But the 11 songs that follow demand almost as much attention.
Baker's songs always start at its barest — an acoustic guitar, piano, etc. — before becoming layered in quick and gradual flourishes.
"Bleary-Eyed" begins with a straightforward acoustic strum and then meets The Flaming Lips' spacey interjections before evolving into a much more elaborate synthetic confection. "Ida, My" moves from a campfire acoustic to erratic sound effects to downsized arena rock.
Although much will be made of Baker's genre splicing, the album succeeds because he never let's things get too complicated. The sounds introduced might sometimes seem schizophrenic, but they are obviously expertly calculated — seldom does one sound or instrument sound out-of-place or intrusive.
Be He Me might be the debut of the year, a bubbling and simmering cauldron of psych-pop, straight-ahead rock, jam-band leanings and countless other nicks and knacks.
Artist: Annuals
Album: Be He Me
Genre: Psych-pop
Record Label: Ace Fu Records
Release Date: Oct. 17
Most Listenworthy Track: 'Brother'
Reviewer's Rating: 4.5 out of 5Ms