Slacks! Slacks!
Infernal Racket Records / Translation Loss IRR10-2 / TL3 2003
By Jason Jordan
Im cognizant of the fact that Slacks! is three years old by now. Another fact for the fact-lovers: I found this in the used section of a local music store, and couldnt pass it up due to its ties to Translation Loss. But youll find no Dysrhythmia, Mouth of the Architect, or Rosetta here, as Slacks! play a style all their own, which varies radically from their peers. There are a wealth of contributors and instruments on the debut, and the songwriting is exemplary in just about every way imaginable.
More often than not, Slacks! conjure a rural setting perhaps a fishin hole or a similar locale with the slightest of ease. My absolute favorite songs are those that feature banjo above all else, radiating a real down-home country feeling thats conspicuously absent from my record collection. Unlike the other compositions, Coronado 2 has a palpable Latin vibe heightened by flamenco-esque strumming, background vocals, and tasteful saxophone interjections. Since its the anomaly on Slacks!, it follows that theres not another song quite like it. As I implied earlier, however, the importance of the banjo is undeniable. When I Was Your Man, Solid Gold, and With the What Now? utilize it to its fullest extent, and in effect, create several nod-worthy passages. Honestly, these shindigs are easier to like than free candy. At the same time, though, I must also address my miniscule distaste for the excursions with full-on vocals such as No Goodbyes and Vision; Im simply not a fan of either one.
So overall, Slacks! are many things, but on this particular outing theyre nothing more than good songwriters, who pepper their manifestations with a smorgasbord of different instruments. Needless to say, the culmination is appetizing. Slacks! isnt their latest, as Translation Loss recently let loose Terrestrial an album Ill definitely try to obtain. As for now, though, Ill just don my overalls and straw hat (a wheat stalk in my mouth, of course), and head across the bridge to Kentucky. With the states affinity for bluegrass and banjo-laden music in general, Slacks! should fit right in.
8/10
Official Slacks! Website
Official Infernal Racket Records Website
Official Translation Loss Website
Infernal Racket Records / Translation Loss IRR10-2 / TL3 2003
By Jason Jordan
Im cognizant of the fact that Slacks! is three years old by now. Another fact for the fact-lovers: I found this in the used section of a local music store, and couldnt pass it up due to its ties to Translation Loss. But youll find no Dysrhythmia, Mouth of the Architect, or Rosetta here, as Slacks! play a style all their own, which varies radically from their peers. There are a wealth of contributors and instruments on the debut, and the songwriting is exemplary in just about every way imaginable.
More often than not, Slacks! conjure a rural setting perhaps a fishin hole or a similar locale with the slightest of ease. My absolute favorite songs are those that feature banjo above all else, radiating a real down-home country feeling thats conspicuously absent from my record collection. Unlike the other compositions, Coronado 2 has a palpable Latin vibe heightened by flamenco-esque strumming, background vocals, and tasteful saxophone interjections. Since its the anomaly on Slacks!, it follows that theres not another song quite like it. As I implied earlier, however, the importance of the banjo is undeniable. When I Was Your Man, Solid Gold, and With the What Now? utilize it to its fullest extent, and in effect, create several nod-worthy passages. Honestly, these shindigs are easier to like than free candy. At the same time, though, I must also address my miniscule distaste for the excursions with full-on vocals such as No Goodbyes and Vision; Im simply not a fan of either one.
So overall, Slacks! are many things, but on this particular outing theyre nothing more than good songwriters, who pepper their manifestations with a smorgasbord of different instruments. Needless to say, the culmination is appetizing. Slacks! isnt their latest, as Translation Loss recently let loose Terrestrial an album Ill definitely try to obtain. As for now, though, Ill just don my overalls and straw hat (a wheat stalk in my mouth, of course), and head across the bridge to Kentucky. With the states affinity for bluegrass and banjo-laden music in general, Slacks! should fit right in.
8/10
Official Slacks! Website
Official Infernal Racket Records Website
Official Translation Loss Website
