Odd Soul REVIEW.

Odd Soul REVIEW.

October 4, 2011, 9:22 pm
Filed under: Music | Tags: albums, best buy, cds, darren king, greg hill, itunes, Music, mutemath, october, odd soul, paul meany, records, reviews, roy mitchell cardenas, tuesday

Oh BABY.  “Odd Soul” by MuteMath dropped today and my feelings towards it are hot as can be.  This scorching, gritty, atmospheric, melodic, skittish record is unlike anything else in your CD player and demands your attention immediately.  From the hard hitting, soulful opener, “Odd Soul” to the ending coup de grace, “In No Time,” MuteMath’s newest album only knows how to do one thing: succeed.  It’s a musical triumph.

What’s great about MuteMath is that each album attempts to outdo the last one.  Although I adore their sophomore effort, “Armistice,” to pieces, I could never even begin to compare it to “Odd Soul.”  Each record is a different offering of musical textures and prowess that deserves their own merits.  What sets “Odd Soul” apart from MuteMath’s other efforts (and other albums in general) is its classic feel.  Each song sounds like its been drenched in a time machine and is oozing with 70s dirt, dust, and grit.  However, the melodic content and musicianship is very much the product of experimenting after hearing decades and decades’ worth of various music styles and genres.  “Prytania” especially lives up to this description, seemingly demanding a music video that looks like it belongs in the background of a “That 70s Show” episode.

Probably the best part of “Odd Soul” is the energy.  Even the subdued songs have a certain drive that can’t be ignored.  The single, “Blood Pressure” has a chorus that’ll knock your socks off.  Part Led Zeppelin, part… well… MuteMath; it’s one of the best singles I’ve heard off a record in a long time (I’m looking at you, “Up All Night” by blink-182).  Another song called “Allies” is a completely fuzzed out jam that you know must sound absolutely sick in a live setting.  This is a really cool aspect to MuteMath’s music: they’re kind of a jam band, but are so dressed up in pop hooks that the jammy-ness might just go right over your head.

I’ll be the first to admit that I miss Greg Hill, the guitarist that left before “Odd Soul” could be made.  The bassist, Roy Mitchell-Cardenas took over on guitars and it’s pretty obvious where his influences come from, and this style permeates “Odd Soul,” giving it the unique flavor that it does.  While I do enjoy this new direction and sound (it’s a very vocal-based record), how can I not crave near-ambient tracks like “Pins and Needles” and “No Response” from “Armistice?”  Or outright rock jams like “Electrify” and “Goodbye?”  The primal, jittery energy of “Odd Soul” is no doubt fun and exciting (and usually really really pretty), but I hear more jamming and less experimentation on this third full length; the structured weirdness of previous efforts is certainly missed on this round.

No matter how you slice it, in comparison to anything else you’re listening to, “Odd Soul” WILL stand out.  It’s an extremely fun record filled with fantastic music fit for anyone looking to get their rock on.  MuteMath, for my money, is one of the finest acts playing music these days, and if you’re inclined to spend some time and money, make sure you pick up, “Odd Soul” before anything else.  When you hear songs like “Walking Paranoia” and “All Or Nothing” you’ll know for sure you made the right call.

“Odd Soul,” available now on iTunes and at Best Buy from Warner Bros. Records.

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