Desaparecidos
Read Music/Speak Spanish
»
Desaparecidos
Read Music/Speak Spanish
Saddle Creek, 2002
RiYL: Bright Eyes, Mountain |
The Omaha band's debut LP Read Music/Speak Spanish doesn't extend its tribute to the victims of the junta beyond the band name, but it does address the gluttonous consumerism and overall homogenization of Americans and their landscape. Though the observations sometimes sound like the arguments a high schooler makes upon his first encounter with "The Communist Manifesto," songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Conor Oberst frantically screams things like "opportunity, no it don't exist / it's the opiate of the populace" and the band samples conversations about Starbucks and lines from infomercials with enough conviction to carry it off.
The full-length starts strong, but falls off near the end. Denver Dalley displays his dexterity through chugging guitar lines on the anthemic "Manana" and "Mall Of America" and sometimes edgy, sometimes melodic phrases on "Greater Omaha."
Throughout most of the record, Ian McElroy's keyboards beep with gusto, and Landon Hedges and Matt Baum's rhythm work is plain tight. However, the record's final two tracks just don't pack the punch of their predecessors. "$$$$" is a decent enough song, but the effects on Oberst's vocals and the straightforwardness of the hook leave something to be desired. Album closer "Hole in One" features one of the most annoying keyboard parts I've heard in a long while. A strong first effort, but not the second coming some folks are deeming it to be.
A.K. GOLD | A.K. Gold lives in Washington, D.C., where she slaves away for a non-profit organization and constantly compares everything to New York City or Chicago. She's earned her "cred" as a college radio and pre-1960 country music DJ, committed indie label street teamer, sporadic zinemaker/contributor, retired mail-order filler and occasional freelance writer. From time to time, she publishes Anecdotal Evidence, a per zine that will some day be considered for the National Book Award, or possibly not. If you want to buy a copy, or desire to write to her for some other reason, email criticgirl@hotmail.com.