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Artist Mon Mar 15 2010
Cloud Nothings Want To Turn You On
I love the innocence and earnestness of lo-fi sound, which is why I was excited to hear the debut album from Cloud Nothings. The buzz and fuzz creates that feeling of camaraderie of hanging in your friend's basement bedroom as a teenager, messing around with your new amp or guitar--which is very likely how Turning On may have developed considering Dylan Baldi, the (young) man behind the music, is only 18 years old.
Throughout Turning On, Baldi does a great job of capturing the dazed melancholy and apathy of life trapped as a teen, but never loses the upbeat pop appeal. All the songs are short, harking back to a simpler time when pop songs clocked in at under two minutes. I was instantly drawn to the single "Hey Cool Kid" which has received all kinds positive recognition noting the infectious pop potential thinly veiled behind all that fuzz. "Ooh You" is another track that I was equally drawn to that was released on a Bathetic Records split tape (split with Chicago's Campfires). It's grungier in comparison, but unfortunately doesn't appear on the album.
While I sing the praises of lo-fi, after an entire album it can get a little old. After a while it feels like the whole album hangs under those fuzzy effects and you start to wonder if the artist is hiding behind them. Here's hoping that Baldi can eventually break out from behind that wall. Considering his age and the pop promise I've heard though, this is one band you'll want to keep your eye on.
Cloud Nothings play at Empty Bottle tonight opening for My Gold Mask and Common Loon. Campfires also play. Show starts at 9pm. Free. 1035 N. Western.
Christina / March 25, 2010 11:02 AM
I love Cloud Nothings. Their sets at SXSW were awesome, even despite the out of character cold Austin was rocking.