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There is something about garage bands that draws audiences to their
hearth and the Yellow Ostrich, fronted by singer-songwriter
Alex Schaaf, is no exception. The band's blend of indie pop
and acoustic rock has a naturalness reminiscent of Ray LaMontagne
and simplicity reflective of Iron & Wine. The band's new
release, The Mistress, from Barsuk Records, demonstrates their
proclivity for catchy rhythmic movements without attaching a lot of
garnishments to clutter their songs.
Tracks like "Libraries," and "HahaHa HooHooHoo"
depend heavily on Schaaf's vocal movements to erect knolls along the
melodic progressions, while numbers like "Campaign" and
"Hate Me Soon" depend on the rhythmic pulses to create traction
in the melodies. The tunes have a skeletal structure which gives them
a folksy texture. Ballads like "Slow Paddle" and "Fog"
are aurally soothing and turn into contemplative musings through "Mary"
while the jangly tambourine of "I'll Run" adds a jubilant
vibe into the album and "Think U Are Great" showcases a
psychedelic flange in the guitar chords. The lyrical themes have relevance
to private lives, like in "Hate Me Soon" as Schaaf explains,
"You're gonna hate me soon if you don't understand / That what
we're doing here has got no long term plan / You're gonna hate me
soon if you do not desist / From what I kindly term as your never-ending
kiss / You're gonna hate me soon."
The Yellow Ostrich make music for themselves. The lyrics are reflections
of their private lives, and the music reflects their individual
tastes. Still in the stages of being a garage band, The Yellow Ostrich
make catchy tunes just right for themselves.
-Susan Frances
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