The Way Out
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The Way Out
Over the course of three albums in nearly a decade’s time, the Books have grown to become one of modern music’s most genuine innovators. The Way Out continues the Books’ tradition of meticulous, existential songcraft, infusing the playfully surreal elements of previous albums with a humorous, childlike excitement. Produced and recorded as always in the Books’ home studios, The Way Out expands on the charm and intimacy of past endeavors with a deeper emotional resonance and an ever-impressive marriage of seemingly disparate sound worlds.
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Kristopher Bell says:
Review by Kristopher Bell for The Way Out
Rating:
“The Way Out” is another solid outing and incremental step forward for the fun, experimental duo The Books.
Built around found audio snippets of adults and children, “The Way Out” playfully dissects these anonymous guests’ words, recontextualizing them to sometimes humorous, sometimes profound effect. And as always the music itself is interesting and provocative. These are skilled musicians, eschewing typical arrangements, signatures, and beats for explorations of texture and rhythm.
Highlights on the album for me include: “A Cold Freezin’ Night” – a frenetic, bass-and-rhythm-driven soundtrack to the murderous threats of a group of children; “Beautiful People,” a harmonious chant-like mathematical dream (I’m not sure I understand the subject matter, but what a trippy song!); and “All You Need is a Wall,” which finds the group coming close to putting together a conventionally structured folk song (and they can sing!).
For those who know The Books, there’s lots to love and enjoy about this album. It will feel familiar from the start in that its a natural, albeit slight, evolution (and then, only really in that sense that they use their own voices a bit more and push into some heretofore unexplored genres).
For those new to The Books, this album is as good a jumping off point as any. And although fans often say “The Books” and “experimental” in the same breath, don’t be scared by the label. Yes, its different cup of tea, but its a lovely sip nonetheless.
Alex says:
Review by Alex for The Way Out
Rating:
The Books have certainly progressed in the interim between albums. These songs match their “found” sounds with instrumentation in new ways, but they still retain the same magic of their first two albums.
While this is a great album to add to your collection, I would disagree with the review that recommends this as a first album to get from The Books. For your first albums I would suggest “The Lemon of Pink” and then “Thought for Food”. Both superlative. Head to their main site “the books music [dot] com” to hear full previews.
Also, don’t forget The Books’ collaboration with Prefuse 73 — “Prefuse 73 Reads The Books” Talk about catching lightning in a bottle – it is a perfect alloy of their styles.
BTW, if you have a chance to see The Books live, it is an event not to be missed. They synch’d a videos with their songs and added new layers of rhythm to some of their best songs.