Album Review

A novelty video can be both a blessing and a curse. I’m sure OK Go had no problem with all the hype, fame and exposure they received as a result of their quite clever video for “A Million Ways” back in 2005. But what happens when all you are remembered for is a choreographed dance routine involving exercise treadmills?

This is the spot OK Go find themselves in circa 2010. They are now transitioning into stage two of their career as serious rock stars. Now is the time to convince the masses to remember them for their music as opposed to their antics.

Of the Blue Colour of the Sky is an intriguing stab at doing just this. At times it sounds more like a Prince album than anything OK Go has done in the past, and it’s quite an obvious attempt to shake free from their power-pop roots. The band retains their trademark energy though, it’s just directed in a different way musically.

Lead singer Damian Kulash’s voice will be the make or break moment for most listeners. On many of the songs he adopts a rather ridiculous Prince-style falsetto which seems like it may have worked well for perhaps a bridge or two, but which is dragged out over and over again throughout the album. As a result, songs like “WTF?,” “White Knuckles,” and “End Love” all end up resembling generic ’80s synth pop. The latter completely reeks of “Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order, only it fails to balance it electronic sheen with a dark subject matter. I think that’s the problem with OK Go attempting material like this. They obviously aren’t dejected enough to make it seem authentic.

“WTF?” is a bit more successful since it feels more loose in general, but it is still a weak choice for a single. These guys are pros at writing power-pop songs, so watching them venture into more experimental territory is like watching a rowboat drift out into a hurricane. It might make it, but it’s undoubtedly gonna get tossed around violently.

While some of the more bombastic dance floor numbers fall flat, the hidden gems on the record are the quiet, serene numbers. My favorite song is easily “Before the Earth was Round.” A hypnotic, vocodor-driven tune which recounts the history of our planet before it had actually taken shape, it’s a beautiful song that showcases how well these guys can sync up with longtime Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann when the right material presents itself.

The last half of the record redeems the first. “Last Leaf” is a surprisingly affective acoustic number, while “Back From Kathmandu” is a stomping psychedelic number which very much sounds like Fridmann’s beloved Flaming Lips in all the best ways. It mixes acoustic and electric guitars in a wash of effects just right, plus the string section during the bridge is a perfect fit. Watch out for that final track, “In the Glass,” as well. It’s a bombastic rocker that sounds like something Bowie would have dreamed up in the Ziggy era.

The best way to describe this album is that it’s a bit bi-polar. Half of it is an attempt to be a Prince cover band dance party, while the rest of it is a grab bag of moody, experimental rockers. I still think it’s worth picking up on the power of the backend alone. It will be interesting to see which direction OK Go goes on their next disc. There are some very worthy psychedelic experiments on here that lead me to believe these guys could come up with an album down the road to compete with the likes of the New Pornographers, Spoon and the Shins. The boys are obviously still finding their sound though, but once they lock it down they may be a force to reckon with.

No Comments »