The Books - Lost and Safe

Blip Begone!!

The Books have done well to create a beautiful mess of folktronica that is absolutely their own. However, Lost and Safe has deviated by its gradual conform to simplicity. I appreciate The Books wanting to expand their musical dimensions, and it is ironic that they do so by becoming more standard - they move in the opposite direction of most artists.

This album has much more singing. The presence of clips and quotes are also heightened, losing the vague conversational feel between the vocals and spoken voices (as in “The Lemon of Pink”). We aren’t piecing together their message with various colorful puzzle pieces, but having them bombard us via voice, melody, and each word that is transcribed in the booklet. At times, the noises can be a bit agitating, with too much chaos and disconnection between them all, as in “If Not Now, Whenever.”

There is a significant drop in the shifts in each song, giving them a sense of completion and cohesion which was carefully absent in their previous release. Lost and Safe is much more anticlimactic.

The first two songs of the album make a promise that only the sixth song is able to keep. The Books replace carefully sliced samples of folk and orchestral majesty with one dimensional melody that never really ends up going anywhere. The songs no longer tell layered stories with numerous unexpected pinnacles.

The Books generally create music that is awful to read to, since it demands every ounce of one’s attention. However, I think it’s a little too feasible to be preoccupied with other stimuli while listening to Lost and Safe.

If any other band were to create this album, it would receive an A. Newcomers: this album is not a good representation of the capabilities of The Books. Oldcomers: there are certainly highlights (“Be Good to Them Always” and “An Animated Description of Mr. Maps” remain hopeful of progression), but I recommend Psapp or Efterklang to pleasure your blip delight.

The Books, Lost and Safe: C

Sam Albertson lives and breathes indie music. He lives in Portland, Oregon

Posted on March 10, 2005 12:56 PM