One Bedroom [Import]

Don't believe the 3.5 star average (at least before this)...this album is great. It's hard to say much that hasn't been said, but I will say this..."Le Baron" is an amazing song. "Interiors" really strikes some personal chords as well.

Each song on the album is quite unique. The drumming, as these guys are known for, is excellent. I would recommend listening to these guys with a bass system...most groups that aren't rap or techno generally don't exploit bass too much, and as a result, those two genres sound awesome with a subwoofer, while other music doesn't benefit as much. Let me say this; with a sub, One Bedroom (and The Biz) is absolutely amazing. Listen to "Hotel Tell" with a good system if you don't believe me.

Anyways, as the title of this review suggests, first time or two you listen to it, it's not gonna be as good. There are times when you can really get into it - coming from someone who loves a lot of music and tries to listen to it as much as possible, if any album is so enticing that I'll listen to it three times in one day, there's gonna be something special there. One Bedroom is one of those albums.

The first track, "Four Corners," immediately sets the tone for the entire album, and TSAC is at the top of their creative game here. A hypnotic (as well as memorable) riff from Archer Prewitt and John McEntire's 4-to-the-floor drumming sets things off, but not before the electronics help intensify the proceedings (along with Eric Claridge's always melodic bass playing). Not until the 3-minute mark do we hear Sammy Prekop chiming in with his first words of the whole album, and he delivers the goods. Like an indie rock answer to Dave Matthews, Prekop may be hard to figure out in terms of what he's singing about, but this is the TSAC I've always loved & known, & this track really stands up for repeated listening.

"Hotel Tell," the title track, "Mr. F," "Interiors," and a cover of Bowie's "Sound & Vision" are no doubt highlights on an already awesome album, done up in typical TSAC fashion, but the indisputable highlight that deserves some mentioning is "Shoulder Length." Again, McEntire's fetish for analog synths and old-school rhythm machines really work together brilliantly, but on this track, even more so. However, they don't distract from the center of attention - you guessed it, Sam Prekop right up front in the mix. With its dub/reggae/Can/Neu!/techno vibe all over the place, "Shoulder Length", even if it clocks in at just over 3 minutes, is worth every second of its playing time. It's also lyrically accessible, even if it takes a few listens to figure out what Prekop's singing about - scoring & getting some: "Summertime/don't give it all away" and making moves without missing opportunities that are meant to be: "Specialize/begin/a look in your eye/well you're gonna miss it/don't tell/I'm believing this is true"

In short, One Bedroom is the best TSAC album to date, and for those who want to give their DMB or John Mayer CDs a break for a moment, this is the album to pick up (no pressure, of course).
Just prepare to listen to this album with open ears and an open mind to get at why TSAC is an awesome group that defies categorization and trends and still continues to do so after 10 years.