The Velvet Teen - Elysium

so if you know me at all, you are probably well aware that I love the velvet teen. this is just a fact that cannot be ignored, because I will not fucking shut up about it, ever. so it's really not a surprise that I am posting yet another one of their records and then uncontrollably fangirling about it for 3 hours.

Elysium is the Velvet Teen's second album. aside from being a beautiful record that ~*~changed my life~*~ and deserves lavish praise, it has a distinguishing factor: not wanting to pigeonholed as another standard boring indie rock band from california, the band members decided to eschew guitars entirely (well, except bass guitars). instead they use piano, synths, layered vocals and an entire string section. I suppose this album could be referred to as "baroque," but my preferred adjective for it is "delicious."

many of the songs are quietly melancholy and then they slowly build to a violin-drenched climax, with judah nagler's gorgeous soaring vocals at the forefront, telling cryptic stories about failed love and frustration. the remarkable exception to this is the 13-minute epic "chimaera obscurant," which changes tack halfway through and works itself into a contained frenzy, with poetically acidic lyrics of political disenfranchisement.

the version of Elysium I have for download here includes the song "no one gets the best of me," which was available only on the vinyl release of Elysium and doesn't quite fit with the rest of the record. it's much noisier and more indicative of the electronic-infused direction the band takes on Cum Laude!, their subsequent album. it's also totally awesome.

in conclusion: DOWNLOAD THIS ALBUM MOTHERFUCKERS YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.


The Velvet Teen - Elysium
download it
buy it

thevelvetteen.com
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