AM/FM - Mutilate Us

  by Geraint Jones

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

Principally a duo, Philadelphia based AM/FM comprise Brian Sokel and long time friend, Michael Parsell. Sokel writes the majority of the material, handles the lead vocals and plays the bulk of the instrumentation whilst Parsell handles the drums and percussion and contributes occasional piano and guitar. In an effort to depart from the conventional method of recording, whereby the material is written and arranged before being recorded, AM/FM decided to attempt to induce some spontaneity into the proceedings by entering the studio with only sketches of the songs they planned to record. Augmented by an array of guests from other Philadelphia bands, AM/FM’s debut, ‘Mutilate Us’ is as unexpectedly enjoyable as it is difficult to categorise. Neither conventional nor revolutionarily different ‘Mutilate Us’ is undoubtedly a consistently entertaining listen throughout. Accessible and melodic, the world of contemporary off-kilter lo-fi pop may be a densely populated one, but AM/FM’s debut justifiably stands out in the crowd. Apart from their own refreshing ingenuity of which the recent single' A Best Man (Put My Girlfriend On Fire)' is a prime example they’re also capable of inventive interpretation as displayed on their take of the Beach Boys 'Disney Girls (1957)', which replaces the laid back warmth of the original arrangement with fragile acoustic introspection. Their skewed lyrics of love and failed relationships, embellished with subtly intricate instrumentation and quietly lush vocal arrangements prove to be a winning formula and whichever wavelength you’re normally on AM/FM are definitely worth tuning into.

Track Listing:-

1 Mutilate Us
2 Secretly Odds in Knowing Normal Worlds
3 A Best Man (Put My Girlfriend on Fire)
4 You and Me at 53
5 Those Long Arms
6 Yours Recklessly
7 Leanne, Seasons Persist
8 When I Died in Sebastopol
9 Time Flows Much More Slowly This Way
10 When Larry and Gary Get Married
11 Disney Girls (1957)
12 Success Rides a Shiny White Line
13 Mutilate Us
14 [Untitled]

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