alt-J’s This Is All Yours
There was a lot of hype surrounding the release of alt-J’s latest album, This Is All Yours. Expectations were set high by fans and the media due to the success of their debut album, An Awesome Wave, which gifted indie music fans with something original, different, and generally a little weird.
Having named themselves after the keyboard shortcut for the symbol for change (∆), alt-J is a band known for its combination of alternative rock with electronic timbres. Their wicked synths, hip-hop influenced beats and haunting vocals present in their first album were thrown together to create something brilliant.
Following the release of An Awesome Wave in 2012, alt-J was given the pressing title of being the “next Radiohead” by some critics – obviously a tough label to live up to. So, let’s keep in mind that since their debut album happened to be mindblowing, they had the added pressure of being a new band and having to make a record that is even better than their first (really great) one.
Does This Is All Yours live up to the high standards set by their debut record?
Aside from the fact that the track list is slightly excessive (unlike their debut album, which was short and sweet), there are a number of really good tracks. The “Intro” does what it was probably supposed to do – reminds us of alt-J’s weirdness that we recognize and love. The album continues to follow a psychedelic, 90s-alt., folktronica sound, with Joe Newman’s hypnotizing vocals completing the package. A few of my favourite tracks to vibe to are “Every Other Freckle” (creepy lyrics and all), “Choice Kingdom”, “Leaving Nara”, and the Black Keys-esque “Left Hand Free.” Let’s not ignore the calm, dreamy folk sounds that accompany “Warm Foothills,” which also features spliced vocals sung by Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame.
Overall, alt-J’s This Is All Yours is most definitely worth the listen. Its psychedelic twist makes it a good record to wind down to- adding a relaxing feel, and makes it a really good album to listen to with some select “cognitive aids.”
