Search - Elected :: Me First

A Fantastic Fusion Of Folk And Finesse

Michael Alahouzos | San Diego, CA/Washington, DC | 02/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, that sums it up fine. The Senate (or THE ELECTED I guess, as they're now called) disc is a masterpiece from the guy who used to be on a Nickelodeon show titled Salute Your Shorts. I came across this disc by way of the bassist of the record (Daniel Brummel from OZMA) back in April, and I was very skeptical to the sound at first. Lead singer Blake Sennett (guitarist from Rilo Kiley) takes a turn from the pop rock he's used to performing and made a disc of, well, pop folk. The disc hasn't changed much from when I first recieved it in April, only the track order and band name, and that's a good thing. (While I don't really like the new band name!) The cd was near perfect before, there was no reason to change it. Some new synth sounds have been incorporated into the work, thanks to the producer (didn't he do Bright Eyes?), but other than that it is the same flawless folk rock record I first heard almost a whole year ago. If you like The Allman Brothers, Dire Straits, Neil Young, CSN, or Bob Dylan, give this a try; if Me First had been released in the glory days of those artists, it would today be considered a flawless and classic production."

Familiar and new all at the same time

D. Holifield | California | 03/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The moment I heard the first cut on this CD I was intrigued. Three days later and I still can't stop listening to it. I keep rediscovering each song with every listening. It's familiar and new all at the same time. I don't like to use genres to describe music, instead I like to compare it with other things I already know. At first listen, it really reminded me of Sparklehorse, Ween's country album, and Beck all rolled into something that Gram Parsons might be doing today if he were still alive and if he had a penchant for electronic gizmos whirring and buzzing textures into each song. You'd be wise to grab this CD, it's a good one that has gone largely undiscovered."

The world needs more Elected.

Filmore Mescalito Holmes | tinymixtapes.com | 03/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sub Pop has discovered another sweet gem. The Elected bring forth some particularly catchy post-country rock, that is folk music with studio effects, a keyboard, and the occasional drum machine, that rivals the like-minds in the Super Furry Animals at their own genre bending game and graciously exposes The Coral as the stale anachronism they are. Me First is no desperate grasp at mainstream uniqueness but truly heartfelt music, understated psychedelia on the acoustic side played to peak effectiveness thus making believe The Rapture went Tennessee instead of new wave. There are many influences at work here, which they do a great job of integrating and improving upon, but the one to focus on is Elliott Smith, whom they commemorate with the glory that is liner note mention. They don't quite reach his emotional depths but their own melodical sensibilities more than make up for a lack of tearjerkers. Posing for a border photo in NME next to a "he'll be missed" generic comment is one thing [Moby], but to actually understand and learn from such a great source is another. The world needs more Elected."