Summer People - Good Problems [Album]
The last band/group with eight members I can remember hearing anything by was probably Blazin Squad way back in 2002. I thought their additional members were needless, and that there music was shit, and I know for a fact Im not alone in my thoughts there. However, this changed recently when I was confronted by Summer Peoples debut full length album, Good People. Information about this New York eight-piece is scarce and difficult to come by, with hardly any background information to be found, and so the press release type sheet that came with the paper will have to suffice. Or will it? Because even then, you have no idea about the band other than they have eight members and a new album. Never mind on with the review.
The album is recorded totally live with no tricks or effects added. Its a case of what you see is what you get, but without visuals. Upon placing the CD into my stereo system and hearing the first track Two Hearted River, I was struck sweetly by the folk sounds coming from the introduction, something like Fleet Foxes. But then the vocals began, and the atmosphere was wrecked. Its just yelling in the most inappropriate manner! Was there better to come?
If there was, it certainly didnt come from the second track, Shallow Water People. Its like a song with bi-polar: half of it is random, confusing shouting with heavy guitars and drums which can be described as nothing else than a cacophony of noise, and the other half is a much softer with more rhythm and less shouting. There may be hope yet. Vital signs were getting better, with every song seeing an improvement, some desire to make actual music. Broken Bones for example is musically, very good, but the vocals are still being yelled at you and its just completely unnecessary, as are about four members of the band - they could quite easily make the same music with four members, five at a stretch.
However, finally, my patience and hope was rewarded when I reached The Other Side which is very aptly named for a song which illustrates the other side to the bands split personality which I suspected existed from the start. Its pleasant and kind on the ears, very much like Fleet Foxes. And after this, the good songs just kept rolling. For Giving In shows off beautifully melancholic guitar playing and a hauntingly slow pace with soft vocals for a change. But they couldnt just leave it at that sadly, the band making some really strange noises with their instruments during the outro of the song.
Balcony startlingly combines all aspects of the bands bi-polar disease. It starts off as though its going to be another good song, as for the most part it is. Its calm and relaxed with laid back (albeit miserable) lyrics, but then about half way through it gets heavier and this mostly drowns out the vocals which sadly leads to certain amount of awful wailing. Towards the end is a horrific amalgamation of sounds which are unlike anything Ive ever heard, before settling back down to a relaxing end. Really odd stuff.
I think the good outweighs the bad on Good Problems but only just, because it doesnt matter how good the good is, the bad really is spectacularly awful. When its calm and dignified, this albums a gem, something really quite enjoyable, but when its hectic and messy, it just sounds like an angry Johnny Cash. Worth a listen or two, but maybe that should be all.