Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
Record Label: Cooking Vinyl
Release Date: March 15, 2011
It's been three years since Does It Offend You, Yeah? released their debut album, You Have No Idea What You're Getting Into. While these three long years have tortured fans with delay after delay, they were completely worth the wait. I'm pleased to say that their new album, Don't Say We Didn't Warn You is phenomenal.
The album starts quietly with the indie-folk track "We Are the Dead," which soon explodes into an addictive dance anthem that continually jumps between the two styles. It is a perfect way to start off the album, as it sounds both familiar and different to their first release.
Next up is "John Hurt," the first song that really starts to show the band's new direction. Spacey synths creep in with the equally appropriate gentle vocals just to explode in the noisy, yet somehow very catchy, chorus. Some classic-sounding hip hop samples are thrown into the mix as well. It's one of my favorite songs off of this album, and I really can't think of another song that sounds like it.
Frontman James Rushent's vocals contain a much greater level of emotion this time around, which is saying a lot since that was never something he lacked. His lyrics and songwriting also have improved, both of which are not nearly as straightforward as they were on the first album. Musically the band has also taken a big step forward as these songs are not only more complex, but also contain a greater variety of sounds and synth work (aided with phenomenal production).
"Pull Out My Insides" is another step forward into the indie-rock focus this album has, complete with a bass line that instantly reminded me of Tokyo Police Club. From start to finish it is simple, fun and catchy; essentially the perfect indie-rock song. Afterward Does It Offend You, Yeah? goes in the exact opposite direction with "Yeah!," an electronic instrumental. Like their debut, the band still manages to mix and match styles with the utmost success.
"The Monkeys Are Coming" is easily my favorite song on Don't Say We Didn't Warn You. It is an insanely catchy and addictive song that feels complete despite the fact that it only contains a repeated chorus. Somewhere between the quirky sampling and aggressive dance rhythms the song reaches perfection.
"Wrong Time Wrong Planet" sounds more like a song by the Gorillaz (both vocally and musically), but it fits perfectly with the rest of the album. Does It Offend You, Yeah? made the song distinctly their own, and it is one of the best tracks on here.
Starting with a sample from the wrestling flick Beyond the Mat, "The Wrestler" is one of their most obnoxious songs yet. It's loud, fun and completely necessary for a Does It Offend You, Yeah? album. As the song ends it leads directly into "Wondering," a bass-loaded rap song (featuring Trip) filled with clever lyrics. Not one song on this album sounds too similar to another, yet it all thankfully remains cohesive. The second to last track, "The Knife," partially returns to their older sound (while still retaining progression) and feels much more like a fitting way to round out the album than a step backward.
Don't Say We Didn't Warn You ends like it began, with an indie-folk song. But unlike the opener, "Broken Arms" doesn't explode into some bass-heavy dance track. It instead builds into an epic song that really shows how much this band has matured.
Whether it needed it or not, every aspect of Does It Offend You, Yeah? has been improved. They decided to focus on what they do best, while still experimenting and expanding their sound. I'm confident that it will be remembered as one of the best albums of 2011.
Sounds like they've really developed their sound, which is cool. As disjointed and full of different sounds and style their debut was, I still really dug it. Do you think old fans will dig their sound now?
Sounds like they've really developed their sound, which is cool. As disjointed and full of different sounds and style their debut was, I still really dug it. Do you think old fans will dig their sound now?
it depends on why they liked the first album; there are no tracks like 'we are rockstars' this time around, but there are definitely some really catchy songs that should hook in fans of the first one.
Took a while to grow into it, but now I play it pretty often, nice mix of mellow indie and lighthearted fun per usual :) Glad someone took the time to review it.
Took a while to grow into it, but now I play it pretty often, nice mix of mellow indie and lighthearted fun per usual :) Glad someone took the time to review it.
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