The Forms - The Forms

Band: The Forms
Album: The Forms
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: Three Spheres

Tracks:
1. Knowledge In Hand
2. Alpha
3. Redgun
4. Focus
5. Borges
6. Bones
7. Blue Whale
8. Math Oberlin
9. Oberlin
10. Transmission
11. White Dot
12. Getting It Back

Every few years, a “new” genre of music emerges. In all reality, it isn’t so much “new,” as it is a comeback style from previous years. Styles and tastes always tend to cycle. That being said, The Forms, a post-pop band based out of New York, is ahead of the current wave of what is desirable to the general population. Their sophomore, self-titled album has a sound that is both, new and refreshing to my ears and is bound to put them at the forefront of an emerging (returning?) post-pop wave.

So, The Pixies, Jawbreaker, Nirvana, Cheap Trick and Flogging Molly all have one thing in common, aside from the huge influence each of them has had on modern music. Any ideas? They all had albums produced by Steve Albini, who just so happens to be the producer of both albums put out by The Forms. Albini was able to capture the amazing harmonies that are audible on nearly every track on The Forms. Compared to their last album, the songs are a lot shorter, averaging just under three minutes in length. Despite the shorter songs, The Forms are still able to create a piece of art.

The album starts of strongly, with “Knowledge In Hand,” which gives a feel for what the rest of the album is like. Although the songs tend to be a bit on the repetitive side, I can’t help but be drawn into them, as if it’s a sort of hypnotic effect. “Blue Whale” immediately captured my heart with bending notes throughout most of the tune. Weird, right? Usually dissonance would turn a listener off, but it’s such a different sound, you can’t hate it. It is also worth noting that the bass line in “Redgun” has randomly popped into my head, while sitting in class. The whole thing comes to a great end with those bending, tremolo-heavy guitar notes ringing through, once again in “Getting It Back,” which also has a great drum and bass core. To describe the album in a single word, I would have to say that it’s catchy.

What’s unique about The Forms is the layering of multiple melodies. Alex Tween, Brendan Kenny and Jackson Kenny layer their guitars (and bass guitar), on virtually every single track. Although the drums are pretty standard, Matt Walsh’s input only adds to the 1970s garage-band like sound the guitars create. Vocally, Alex Tween has a voice that just seems to fit with the style.

The only criticism I have is with the second song, “Alpha,” which just seems a little over the top, in terms of repetitiveness. The vocals aren’t nearly as good as they are on the rest of the album and as a whole, it just comes off as random noise. Aside from that, The Forms have really got something. They incorporate elements of all different styles and even though this may not be something I (or you) would typically listen to, it’s definitely worth a few spins in your stereo.

**Written by our contributing writer: Meaghan Allen**
GRADE: 7.5/10
MYSPACE