Libraries

by The Love Language

Overview

Stuart McLamb proved he could make a pretty fine album all by himself with the Love Language's 2009 self-titled debut, and on Libraries, the first album on Merge for the "group" (essentially McLamb and whoever he chooses to bring along), he shows he can do even better with a bit of production help and a few musicians to help him with the tough parts. Unlike the first album, Libraries was recorded in an actual recording studio (with B.J. Burton serving as engineer and co-producer), and this set of songs retains McLamb's impressive gift for melodies while giving the surroundings just the right amount of polish, which serves McLamb's Spector-esque ambitions very well indeed. After making a big-sounding album on a makeshift home-recording setup, McLamb has crafted some truly epochal tracks for Libraries (particularly "Anthophobia" and "Horophones"), but he has a sure enough grasp of dynamics to know when to play to the last row of the balcony and when to go for something more intimate (cue up "Pedals" and "This Room"), and though he plays most of the instruments himself, the participation of several members of his road band and a few special guests lends some cleaner lines to the performances, which serve them well. And while McLamb's indie pop craft is tighter and better executed, at heart he still sounds like the same guy who made the debut -- a little confused, a little obsessive, and still figuring out this whole human relationship business, which has inspired more great pop music than anything else you can name. For all its ambition, Libraries retains nearly everything that was memorable about the Love Language's debut as it improves on what McLamb accomplished before; if he can do that again, who knows where this admirably screwy genius could end up. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	08/03/2010
Label:	Merge
UPC:	0673855036618
Rank:	82503

Tracks

1. Pedals
2. Brittany¿¿¿s Back
3. This Blood Is Our Own
4. Summer Dust
5. Blue Angel
6. Heart to Tell
7. Anthophobia
8. Horophones
9. Wilmont
10. This Room

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Love Language   Primary Artist
Tom Simpson   Drums
Kate Thompson   Vocals (Background)
Mark Paulson   Violin
Jordan McLamb   Drums,Guitar (Acoustic)
Missy Thangs   Piano
Tyler Mack   Trumpet
Brad Cook   Bass
BJ Burton   Guitar,Soloist,Vocals (Background)
Carter Gaj   Slide Guitar,Lap Steel Guitar
Josh Pope   Bass
Nigel Kher   Saxophone
Risha Amadea Druckman   Violin

Technical Credits

Jeff Lipton   Mastering
Maggie Fost   Design
Stuart McLamb   Composer,Musician,Producer
Jessica Straw   Composer
BJ Burton   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Josh Pope   Composer
Jeff Chapple   Composer