Tuesday's Recommended Release

Trying to describe what Why? sounds like is effing hard! I've been sitting at my computer screen for three straight plays through the album, that on top of the multiple listens I had already given the album, and still I've got nothing so I am resorting the musings of what I think is going on on Alopecia and hopefully that will begin to do this record justice because I know it won't be completely realized in any form. Anyway, I'm really liking this album. It's not like I have to get up after each song and switch on something else to get the bad taste out of my mouth. No instead I sit here bobbing my head along to every thoughtful lyric and with each beat that hits my ear canals. It's a sweet sound that mixes too many elements to classify.

Sure there has been a litany of writing produced on Why? or any of the multiple projects associated with the Oakland based quintet (they are now a quintet, brand new for this album), but each one of those struggles to fully grasp the sound as well, and those are by way more qualified writers then I am. I can tell you that listening to the lyrics put forth by Yoni Wolf will open doors to your imagination, allowing you to picture every moment in perfect clarity as the lyrics role through your ears. But the sound behind the lyrics is entirely unique to Why?, lyric some mutant version of what could happen if you cross alternative folk music with the attitude of hip hop.

I've read countless articles on this band searching for inspiration with mentions of bands as wide and diverse as Bright Eyes and Fog (who happen to have been the two additions to the band this time around) and nothing sits right with me. Sure, there's elements of those things at work here but not one of them truly translates the sound into words. Perhaps this is just one of those albums where you must hear it to begin to understand what we're dealing with, and I would really suggest you all do just that. This is a heckuva release even if I can't quite define Why?.
Why? - "Good Friday"
Why? - "Gnashville"
Why? - "Simeon's Dilemma"