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By Chris Pacifico
In 2004 when I heard the phrase “say yeah” I always thought of Dave Chappelle mimicking rapper Lil' Jon and screaming “hhhheeeeeyeeeeeeahhhh!” In 2005 though the only reason to say “yeah!” in the world of music would have to be the debut release by Brooklyn’s Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. No matter what the music sounds like, the work ethic put in by this band makes it something that all JamBase readers can appreciate. The album is self-released and has sold well as the band is selling out venues around the countries and the band has also supposedly said that they plan to self release their next album. This is true indie rock here.
But aside from all of that, their album is a stellar blend of bouncy 80’s pop and a groovy flow reminiscent of the Talking Heads and Modest Mouse. The self titled opener will bring the seasoned Rolling Stones fan back to Their Satanic Majesties Request while front man Alec Ounsworth creeps in with his cantillating warble on “Let the Cool Goddess Rust Away”. “Over and Over Again (Lost and Found)" is chock full of sugar coated spikiness and the frolicking and dark artiness of “Details of the War” remain delicately somber and gleefully uplifting all at once. “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth” exhibits CYHSY’s uncanny knack for merging a sensorial pop guile while staying danceable as a peppy groove delicately sets into the rhythm.
One of the many good aspects about Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is that they can be serious without having a stick up their ass while at the same time retaining a jubilant and freewheeling pop primer within their music. This is truly an album where the bands music matters as much as the aesthetic in which they put toward their work.
JamBase | Philly
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