A Baker's Dozen for 2010 #8 - ODDBLOOD

I was lucky enough to see Yeasayer twice this year. Once at Lollapalooza, and once at Austin City Limits. Both shows were in the mid afternoon, which for some strange reason worked perfectly. Who knew Indian-infused psychedelic dance rock would sound so good in the sunlight? I think it's because you can't hide in the daytime behind theatrics. Either you have the songs or not. On ODDBLOOD, Yeasayer have the songs.
Let's skip first track 'The Children', which has the distinction of being the worst song on a good album all year. It removes all the best things about this group (soaring vocals, great melodies) and leaves just a mess of distorted noise. I didn't like this album for months after the first listen because of the spray this skunk left. Luckily, I kept coming back to it because the rest of the album is wonderful.
The first song to grab me was 'O.N.E.'. It quickly became my go-to song to crank up with the top down driving home for work. A truly cathartic experience of adrenaline in musical form. Then, I heard 'Madder Red' live for the first time. With waves of harmonies flowing over me and pulsing bass shaking my core, I was lifted to another level of musical awareness.
I know it sounds new-agey. But there is a beautiful mystical side to this album. It has some notable flaws where experimentation goes a little too far. In the end, those spots are just uncomfortable yoga poses on your way to enlightenment.