BARSUK BANDS

 
   
 

travis morrison hellfighters / all y'all (bark67)"All Y'all is as wide-ranging of any of Morrison's projects, and that's something to be celebrated. The big stylistic difference is that there are so many percussion polyrhythms that some portions of the album almost sound Afro-Cuban. This feels like an extension of Morrison's pop-crazy aesthetic rather than a departure, but it's appropriate that, unlike Travistan, All Y'All is credited to a band rather than just to Morrison himself. All Y'All sometimes sounds like the product of jams that were molded into songs - the vocal line on one of the album's best tracks, "As We Proceed," is clearly secondary to the thundering bomba-like rhythms underneath. Some of the slashing guitars and stomping rhythms on the album contain evidence of Morrison's connections to D.C. punk and hardcore, but this isn't a guitar-heavy record - drums and percussion rule here. Whereas Travistan felt like a bedroom project blown up into a studio record (relatively modest in ambition and, despite Pitchfork's claims about "providing closure," songwriterly and lyrically focused), All Y'All is nearly the opposite. The arrangements are complex and the songs dart in counterintuitive directions, but amid all the twists and turns, there are personal, modest moments."  (Dusted Magazine)


travis morrison hellfighters / all y'all (bark67)"The record is full of strong songwriting and memorable melodies. Opener "I'm Not Supposed to Love You (But)" is a confident start, riding out a dreamy and jazzy synth line that breaks down into skittering rhythms that keep the otherwise mellow tune from getting too comfortable with itself. Morrison brings out the big guns early, following the first track's brief nonchalance with easily the best song he's written since "Time Bomb" on the Plan's Change. Built around a clear guitar riff and the gruff contrast of a bass line both insistent and menacing, "As We Proceed" shows Morrison at his best, building nervous tension through verses before releasing it through bright and airy choruses."  (DCist)


travis morrison hellfighters / all y'all (bark67)"Funny, honest, and for once moving in all the same direction, All Y'All is another major achievement in a career full of them, no matter how many purists deny the inevitable maturation of their favorite fringe artists. Trends will shift, but All Y'All finds Travis Morrison as insightful and vital as he ever was with the Dismemberment Plan, and leaves at least one critic eagerly awaiting his country and western opus."  (Lost At Sea)

Back to top

 
 
 

FAQ   |  MAILING LIST   |  HELP OUR BANDS   |  STAFF PLAYLISTS   |  PRESS KITS   |  PRIVACY   |  WEBSITE TROUBLE?   |  LINKS   |  CONTACT US

all rights reserved 2008 barsuk records p.o. box 22546 seattle wa 98122 usa