Released - 2/21/11
Label - Carpark Records
BLURB - Trying to follow last year's insane "Causers of This" wasn't going to be easy...at least in my mind. "Causers of This" was by far my favorite album of the year in 2010, and Toro y Moi instantly became my favorite artist to follow. This April I'll be seeing him for my fifth and sixth times in the last year and a half! So what does Chaz Bundick do for an encore anyway? How about this - completely leave the electronic world of samples, loops and synths and trade it in for a live band. It seems like the next logical step for Toro y Moi. Bundick became a master of creating depth, mood and ambience digitally on "Causers of This," but "Underneath the Pine" proves the musical genius of Bundick as he continues to flourish, this time with a full band backing him. Gone are the samples and glitchy beats, and in come the funky bass lines and layered keyboards of the new Toro y Moi. While his debut release still reigns supreme in my eyes, 'Underneath the Pine' proves that Chaz Bundick (and his band) aren't just a flash in the pan.
Rating - 9 out of 10
FULL STORY - I'll guess I'll start with the bad before the good. The major element that is lacking on "Underneath the Pine" is that melancholy swagger from Toro y Moi's first release. "Causers of This," although it didn't seem like it, was a very heavy, deep and personal record about heartbreak. You could almost feel the emotion through the record, and this was thanks in large part to Bundick's ability to pain pictures with his creative style of chopping and slicing ambient waves of synth against layers of looped percussion and beats, while providing sincere and vulnerable lyrics. He was pouring his heart out, but it was almost impossible to tell. The music and ingenious production was so awe-inspiring and genius, that it was easy to look past the motive. There was a clear theme to the record, and the entire album played like one gigantic song, that was filled with uncertain resolve and impossible to stop listening to. It was one of those records that had to be made at that exact time and can never really be duplicated.
"Underneath the Pine" displays a much less vulnerable Bundick. He's moved on. He's grown up. And part of this process sees Bundick moving his musical endeavors outside of his bedroom studio and to collaborations with a full band. The lonely nights of sampling beats and pouring his heart out are over. This is the new Toro y Moi.
Almost sounding like one last track to "Causers of This," the opener 'Intro Chi Chi' begins slowly and with waves of electronic synths. The song beautifully flows and transitions into 'New Beat,' kind of introducing us to the new Toro y Moi. 'New Beat' is funky, upbeat and fun, and will most certainly get you moving. The song itself has some heavy disco and funk undertones that create an infectious groove. This is interesting...I like where this is going.
'Go With You' brings a slower and more relaxed pace, but is equally impressive. The track wanders around finding several distinct niches and provides layers of depth. Lyrically, there is a continuation in themes from his debut, but a sense that he has most certainly matured:
"Get away from the woods that make you afraid. Down to the last new strands of thought. Making you a target for a fight. Give me somewhere to be, take me somewhere now. You might as well waste your time with me if you're gonna be here. I don't think I'm worth it. As a best friend I don't want to hold you down. But if there's someone better for you, I don't want to be around when you've got to go."
'Before I'm Done' is a carefully constructed acoustic ballad that is something I'd never expect to hear from Toro y Moi, and of course it's well done. The symphonic and orchestral textures gently breeze by with elegance and grace, reminding me very much of something Grizzly Bear would of concocted.
'Got Blinded' brings the energy back with a spiraling array of keyboards of hazy reverb. Just when you think the track is making you too dizzy to continue listening, the instrumentation locks in. The song brightly bounces around different tones and keys as it builds energy and momentum, continuing to show just how creative Toro y Moi is, and how many different musical hats he can wear.
The best and funkiest track of the album is without a doubt 'Still Sound.' This will easy go down as one of the best songs of the year. It's cool, it's groovy, it's fun and has such a likable quality. The bass lines and keyboard jams mesh perfectly as the song sparkles as the record's single. The fact that all of this is performed by an actual band makes the song all the more credible and authentic. I witnessed this first hand at the Mercury Lounge a few weeks ago, and the performance nearly matched the record...extremely tight. 'Still Sound' also has this timeless quality to it. You could have told me it was made in 2011 or 1977 and I would have believed you. It's just one of those songs that has instant appeal, a great sound and is fun to listen to. End of story.
So while I don't think "Underneath the Pine" tops "Causers of This," it certainly comes close. It's new, it's diverse and it has an entirely different feel - all good things. The incorporation of a full band give Bundick's musical mind more avenues and creative ways to express itself. I'm hard pressed to find a more impressive and reputable collection of two consecutive albums. Toro y Moi continues to assure us that when it comes to making innovative and creative music, he's one of the best in the business. "Underneath the Pine" is another one of those records you don't have to worry about skipping through songs - it's all great.
Take a listen to 'Still Sound.'
Tracks
1.) Intro / Chi Chi
2.) New Beat
3.) Go With You
4.) Divina
5.) Before I'm Done
6.) Got Blinded
7.) How I Know
8.) Light Black
9.) Still Sound
10.) Good Hold
11.) Elise
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