Band: Baroness
Album: Yellow & Green
Genre: Sludge / Hard Rock / Alt.
Release: 2012
Country: USA
Tracklist:
Disc I
1. Yellow Theme
2. Take My Bones Away
3. March to the Sea
4. Little Things
5. Twinkler
6. Cocainium
7. Back Where I Belong
8. Sea Lungs
9. Eula
Disc II
1. Green Theme
2. Board Up the House
3. Mtns. (The Crown & Anchor)
4. Foolsong
5. Collapse
6. Psalms Alive
7. Stretchmarker
8. The Line Between
9. If I Forget Thee, Lowcountry
Comments: Summer jams with Baroness.
This is a turning point for Baroness. Every colour is different to each other. And so is
Yellow and Green to the their previous efforts. It's an evolution that not only works but also refines their musicianship. I'm not gonna lie. There was slight hesitation first. This is very different from
Red or
Blue. It's straightforward, accessible and very much rock-oriented. But thankfully at the same time, it's a veritable of soul and expression.
First off, the setting it sets. Listening to it you drift away to the sea where waves reach out in the dancing sun. So damn refreshing ... and I guess that was me there. But you know, summer and rock n' roll. And I love it. The songwriting builds up beautifully. It's very direct. The punching hooks and the driving melodies are out of this world. Solo sections humble you up. Every instrument plays out to the other. The drums build up, the guitars progress in and out so naturally. Gone are the days of feral heaviness and blazing riffage. Baizley's groaning swampman vocals have been replaced with warm dramatic cleans. And personally, this is so fitting to the record. He sings out the core emotions of every track.
However what intrigues me the most is the attitude held up. What sets them apart from their contemporaries is their stimulating poignancy. Tracks like
Eula and
MTNS. (The Crown & Anchor) set the mood so light, yet so distressing. Remarkable stuff. Everyone should listen to this. My personal favorites are
March to the Sea and
Board Up the House. But this needs to heard as a whole.
Green Theme,
Psalms Alive,
Little Things and so many more are just too good to pass up.
It's my summer album of the year. Simple enough.
Rating: 4.5/5