Blue Noise in Review

At least part of 17O1’s free new album “Blue Noise” should make it onto your spring playlist.

The compilation album is an eclectic mix of original student music with something for everyone. In an effort to make the album diverse, however, I feel some of the stronger rock and pop primer tracks that did not make the cut were shown short shrift. For example, Jamestown and Gets the Girl don’t feature on the album, only in the primers, but they recently proved themselves to be two of the best bands on campus, and their primer tracks rock. Hmmm.

But the CD already had over 400 downloads the day it was released. Awesome.

I liked both Alec Torres’ TC '13 album and primer tracks, but “Wednesday Night” has an enjoyable almost Jason Mraz-like quality, whereas 17O1 might have chosen “Thoughts of a Blind Man” as a slower track to fill out the album, even though it’s great too.

The opening track “3:33PM” by Julian Kantor SM ’11 is a bit overdramatic—it seems to think that 17O1 will all be legendary--but it’s trying to get people pumped.

“I am part of a syndicate of dedicated, vindicated instrumentalists and lyricists, who want to graduate to ironically be physicists,” Rico Bautista MC ’12 says on the track.

The album still puts out some quality rock tracks: “Stone and Progress” by Bushwhack and “Break, Break” by Salivating Eyes, as well as a high energy and textured jazz piece “Green Tunnel” by Chilled Water Supply.

Chilled Water Supply

Salivating Eyes is a rock quartet with a baller guitarist, CJ Uy BK ’12 (from my 205 class freshman year), that’s even more fun live than on the album. CJ’s signature, wicked-fast guitar solos are a bit more electrically modified on the album, and I think he does best with improv. Still, this track was stuck in my head for most of physics. “Break, Break” was a good choice, but I guess 17O1 decided to overlook their other hit “My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend.” oh well. “Break, Break” has a solid riff, and the backup vocals at the end are a great addition.

Where “Break, Break” has a chill rock sound, Bushwhack’s “Stone and Progress” is heavier with strong lead vocals, echoing backup vocals and instrumental countermelodies that keep the song interesting without taking away from the strong, emotional sound of the lead vocals. The breaks could maybe be brought out even more with dramatic chords and cuts in vocal texture to match the skilful drum rolls.

But while its rock and jazz scene look promising, Yale’s hip-hop future is questionable. High Definition’s track “Rich and Famous” is true to its genre but annoyingly repetitive. I could see this being played on Old Campus from a dorm window, but there’s enough bad hip-hop music already on the radio with higher quality electronics (distractions from the lack of/needling melody) for me. Also, the lyrics are trite, inconsistent and unconvincing. Example: “There’s still more [to life], like being on top of Megan Fox in a billboard.”

I don't see you...

“Mile High Club” wins the award for funniest lyrics, but “Scotty & The Pornos” are advised not to take themselves too seriously, but since the 17O1 website claims all the song’s events actually happened, clearly they don’t. The “sexy” voice at the beginning of the track didn’t exactly turn me on, but the storyline was pretty hilarious.

Some of lyrics in tracks such as “One for Me” are completely cheesy, but others such as lyrics in “Thoughts of a Blind Man,” and “L’Absurde” (omg it's the French existentialist concept, death=unpredictable/random. I see you Camus.) are clever and even profound. And any song in French automatically scores 3x more points in my book.

C’est vrai. Namasté, the group behind "L'Absurde," is Paris-based. Tout dit.

This is almost the best thing that’s happened since Kamini. (no, seriously. Watch this.)

Namasté........Kamini

“Leaving Port” by Anchorage made me feel like a pirate at sea, so I’d say it’s worth listening to. Caitlin Pequignot ES '14 is more of a violinist than a singer, but I think this freshman is adorable and refuse to hate on her at all. The song is soft, fun and carefree—a nice reprieve that’s making it onto my finals calmthehelldown playlist.

The album gives a bit too much time (about 10 minutes total) to electronic music that is interesting at first but loses appeal.

But the folk addition is delightful. Plume Giant’s colourful three part vocal harmonies make their track, “Honey Pie” (yeah, this one again. They also submitted Fool Hall. Tough choice.) stand out as a record highlight. (giving PG another shoutout for helping getting me through a reaaally bad week. thanks, you're awesome)

"Tuesday" works wonders

They may not be headed to Spring Fling, but Plume Giant is what I, and everybody else, is listening to. Good pick, 17O1.

Which tracks do you like? Any duds?

Z