First off, I’d like to start by saying that many of my recent reviews have been lacking in what many would call twang. Having said that, this specific review will follow suit. For any sort of twangy, countrified needs you may have, please check-out these relatively-recent-releases…now, moving on.
It has been said over and over again recently that there is little, if anything in today’s music world that is truly original. Those same folks usually bolster their stance by suggesting that most of the larger movements we have seen in music’s recent past, from Grunge to Boy-Band Pop to the contemporary sheen of Nashville to the Garage-Rock revival from the early part of this decade are just that, revivals. I agree. Having said that, to be fresh, one doesn’t have to be original, nor does one have to be original to be exciting and even visionary.
Cloud Cult, out of Minneapolis, bares resemblance to many of today’s more exciting acts that have emerged from the rock world in the past few years. Their new album, Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) is sonically reminiscent of The Arcade Fire (that isnt a terribly original thought, as it has been said numerous times). While many of the songs have an acoustic or straight ahead rock foundation, enough layers of electronic wizardry, orchestral strings and majestic beats are laid upon that simple foundation to warrant the appropriate comparisons to the stylish rockers from the north. Also, the wide ranging squeal of Craig Minowa brings to mind the wild vocal of another artist who has recently been draped with the albatross of “innovative revivalist”, Jack White. I don’t point out these similarities in order to display any sort of mimicry, because there isn’t any of that to be found here. I simply mean to highlight that Cloud Cult successfully eminates a vibrancy and an artful perspective that still finds a way to simply convey the message in each song.
Many of the tracks, specifically ”When Water Comes to Life”, seem to deal with the sudden death of Minowa’s 2 year old son while simultaneously providing a nod to the evolutionary process. It is near the end of this emotional ode, when Minowa is exclaiming “All you need to know, is you were made of water“, that you can’t help but feel the grief and even hear the possible attempt at creating a simple explanation to such a complex mortal question that will help him recover any modicum of sanity. Other tracks, such as “Story of the Grandson of Jesus” also provocatively pose questions regarding life and the bigger picture of what may lie beyond our own individual realities.
When listening to Cloud Cult, I would encourage you to refrain from wondering how “original” the band may or may not be (by the way, I am not sure there are levels of originality as much as there are levels of pregnant). When catching them live or rocking them on your Ipod, try and prevent yourself from becoming at least a tad entranced with their fresh and progressive perspective on modern rock music.
This review and SO MUCH more can be found on TWANGVILLE
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