REVIEW: The Dirty Projectors - The Getty Address

8 out of 10

Find it here.

"The Getty Address" is the fourth album from former Yale student Dave Longstreth aka The Dirty Projectors lead man. In case you haven't heard of The Dirty Projectors, they are somewhat of an "artsy/eclectic" Indie band. They tend to stomp all over genres when it comes to defining their "style". I honestly didn't give The Dirty Projectors the chance they deserved until this album. This to me is their "defining moment" in music history. It's what sets them apart from all of those other musical geniuses out there. If you're at all interested in the "avant garde/bizarre" side of music/noise or jazz/classical music compositions you are missing out on something by passing this album up. Mix the Lo-Fi aesthetics of Microphones, the orchestral arrangements of Parenthetical Girls, and a unique OR "falsetto swooning vocal talent" and you get TDP.

On "The Getty Address" you'll get strings, clicks, cuts & thumps on both live and electronic drums, a precocious horn section, "non-sensical" electronic guitar twiddles, strings, "tribalistic" choir sounds, strings, gorgeous/haunting female vocal harmonies, pan flutes, odd stops or "glitch moments" as I like to call them, the "unique" vocal talent I referred to above, and more strings. You may feel as if you are stuck in a 1960's Saturday morning cartoon wondering through a dark cave with your cartoon posse on cartoon acid. It's that bizarre, but it's terrific because of that fact. I know this release will be one of those "acquired tastes" album's, but I do think there are elements throughout that any ear will agree with.

This release is a modern day Hi-Fi/Lo-Fi "Indie band sound" as seen through the eyes of Philip Glass. Listen to "The Getty Address" when you're feeling eccentric. The first time I listened to this album I listened to it three times in a row. Muchos Recommendos.

Standout Tracks: I Sit On The Ridge At Dusk, I Will Truck (pretty catchy), D. Henley's Dream (damn good), Gilt Gold Scabs (LOVE this track), Not Having Found, Tour Along The Potomac, Jolly Jolly Jolly Ego (has great "glitch"), Time Birthed Spilled Blood