Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Mama Would Be Proud - Ways To Feel Awake

9/23/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Mama Would Be Proud

Ways To Feel Awake
Paco Tapes; 2014

4.1 out of 5

By Matt Jensen
Forming in 2009 Mama Would Be Proud is a band consisting of Christian Baraks (bass, keys, design, floor tom) Evan Douglas (vocals, effects), Ben Littlejohn (bass, effects) and Stephen Roberts  (guitars, drums, vocals, keys, bass). Their recent effort Ways To Feel Awake is a cathartic lo-fi album that feels immediate and pure. The music tips its hat to art rock from the last decade but the most obvious bands would be Animal Collective and Bright Eyes, less so because of the music but more so because of the vocal style and delivery. The vocals are quite good, dynamic and passionate but I also heard a bit of Panda Bear and Connor Oberst in there at times. 

The first track “I Can’t Compete” is an honest, sparse song revolving around a guitar, bass, some light atmospheric elements and an exceptional vocal performance that’s all covered in more than a healthy amount of reverb. The lyrics are pessimistic but it’s all about the delivery. Douglas sings “The ugly duck: they laughed at the quack 'til it shut him up there ain't enough love to lift up what we cannot touch So I'd get better, but I don't feel better.” The song starts to climax when Douglas repeats “I don't feel better” with more intensity as if he is revolting against the statement with existential angst. 

The second half of the song is an ominous blend of atmospheric elements that emphasize the feelings of confusion and sadness. “Bonfire” is a party compared to the first track while “A Son's A Sun” takes advantage of layers of white noise, which add to the dynamic vocal performance. 

“Can You Hear The Rain?” was a highlight as the music is in a constant state of flux. It’s disorienting, warm, beautiful and impactful. It starts off unassuming, relatively straight and then delves into chaos as he repeats the title of the song - fantastic. “They Tell Ya” was the first song I thought to myself that this is a bit like a Flaming Lips song sung by that dude Youth Lagoon. On top of that the song contains the perfect amount of melancholy, solace and emotion. 

Ways To Feel Awake is a bit of grower. On my first listen the songs hid behind the lo-fi production and mounds of reverb but by my third or fourth spin I started to realize how powerful this record actually was. The songs are there and it seemed like the more you listened the more it revealed itself. The band has put a lot of time and effort into crafting music with an emotional resonance that is deep. Really good stuff - check it out. 
bandcamp
official website
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact