Something Like Sound

Most bands take years to develop. The guitarist needs to learn how to play with the bassist. The vocalist needs to write lyrics appropriate to the music style. The drummer needs to bring it all together with the beat. Throwing in a violin and cello usually makes the balance even harder to achieve. However, a band from Syracuse, New York, seems to have pulled off the mix in less than two years.

Ra Ra Riot’s first album, The Rhumb Line, proves that upbeat music can still be relaxing. Although a violin and cello can be easily lost with most bands, Ra Ra Riot promises that this will not be the case for their group. The opening track, “Ghost Under Rocks,” begins with the cello and continues to be string-driven through the rest of the song.

This trend continues throughout the album as the strings continue to be the centerpiece. Pop string arrangements appear especially strong on “Winter ’05,” a song reminiscent of the Beatles classic “Eleanor Rigby.” However, Ra Ra Riot’s style shifts throughout the album, starting the album with the easy listening tracks “Ghost Under Rocks” and “Each Year.” The Rhumb Line becomes dance-worthy on “Dying is Fine” and a cover of Kate Bush’s “Suspended in Gaffa” while it takes on an 80′s power pop sound on “Too Too Too Fast.”

For lyrics, Ra Ra Riot aims for poetry. As a result, some songs are difficult to pull a meaning out of. Sentences often run together, giving the songs a sense of continuity, but occasionally sacrificing meaning to do so. Despite this lyrical structure, some songs do have evident meaning. An example of this is apparent on “Can You Tell,” wherein singer Wes Miles wonders if a girl knows the way he feels about her. The general theme throughout though is focused on poetry. One song, “Dying is Fine,” is based extensively on a poem by E. E. Cummings.

Over all, The Rhumb Line combines an upbeat tempo with a laid back, relaxing sound and poetic lyrics. The three songs in the middle of the album, “Winter ’05,” “Dying is Fine,” and “Can You Tell” seem to set themselves above the rest. However, the entire album complements itself and ties together through all the different styles. This record is a must-own for fans of Vampire Weekend and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.