Search - Magik Markers :: Boss

Noisesters rock steady

T. M. Orange | 10/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Heard these guys in DC a few years ago and jeepers did they unleash an ungodly caterwaul of noise and other aural atrocities -- and it was delicious. So imagine the chorus of delightful surprise that has met the Markers' latest: wow, song structures! And are those really acoustic guitars and pianos? Yes kids, with the blessings of tourmates Sonic Youth (produced by Lee Ranaldo for Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label), we are now witnessing a kinder, gentler Magik Markers -- albeit still pretty spooky weird. With the opening sixtysecond gtr squall of Track 1 (drink deep!) as the only real reminder of where they came from (ok, count the openings of Tracks 7 and 9), the remainder of this disc pretty much rocks in the straightforward sense. Granted, there are often no chord changes. And Elsia Ambroglio intones rather than sings, even one-upping Kim Gordon in this respect. Cat Power fans will especially want to check out Tracks 4 & 8, the latter of which is, well, downright purty. Is Ambroglio going for singersongwriter chanteuse crown here? Regardless, Track 2 is the punkrocker of the bunch while Tracks 5 & 6 smolder and brood. (The latter opens: "I'll admit it is a death trip / tried it on but it don't fit" -- take that Iggy!) And sure nuff you kin nod yr head to it all."