facebook icon facebook icon facebook icon
  • About
  • ADS
  • Masthead
    • Editorial Board
  • Submission
  • Subscribe
The Wellesley News -
  • News
    • Contract ratified by Wellesley’s Maintenance and Service Employees Union
      Contract ratified by Wellesley’s Maintenance and Service Employees Union
    • News in Brief
      News in Brief
    • Wellesley adapts to end of race conscious admissions
      Wellesley adapts to end of race conscious admissions
    • Senate Report
    • News in Brief
  • Features
    • Professor Spotlight: Dr. Faisal Ahmed
      Professor Spotlight: Dr. Faisal Ahmed
    • Spotlight: New Professor Kathryn Winner
      Spotlight: New Professor Kathryn Winner
    • Spotlight: New Professor Lucia Nhamo ’11
      Spotlight: New Professor Lucia Nhamo ’11
    • Humans of Wellesley
    • Archives
  • Opinions
    • France’s Abaya Ban Unveils Its Own Misogyny
      France’s Abaya Ban Unveils Its Own Misogyny
    • Editorial: In defense of affirmative action
      Editorial: In defense of affirmative action
    • I am an NCAA champion: we should end college recruiting
      I am an NCAA champion: we should end college recruiting
    • Editorials
    • Letters to Editors
  • Arts
    • The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes: What’s happening in Hollywood?
      The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes: What’s happening in Hollywood?
    • Digging into Hozier’s Unreal Unearth: “De Selby (Part 1)” and the Population of Loss
      Digging into Hozier’s Unreal Unearth: “De Selby (Part 1)” and the Population of Loss
    • Summer Releases to Help Usher in Fall
      Summer Releases to Help Usher in Fall
  • Sports
    • Gauff and Richardson Shatter Expectations
      Gauff and Richardson Shatter Expectations
    • Student Athlete of the Month: Kennedy Mayo
      Student Athlete of the Month: Kennedy Mayo
    • No image
      What even is a BORG and why does it matter?
  • Multimedia
    • Photo of the Week
      Photo of the Week
    • “Stronger Together” Rally with Chelsea Clinton
      “Stronger Together” Rally with Chelsea Clinton
    • College Government Vice President 2016 End of the Year Report
      College Government Vice President 2016 End of the Year Report
    • Podcasts
    • The Wellesley Snooze
  • Projects
      • The News in Conversation
    • About
      • Contact
      • Join the News
      • Masthead
      • Editorial Board
    By Galen Chuang Arts, ReviewsOctober 1, 2014

    Alt-J’s “This Is All Yours” showcases band’s emotional growth

    In 2012, the British indie-rock sensation alt-J stepped almost instantly into the spotlight with their first and critically acclaimed album, “An Awesome Wave.” Last week, the band released their highly anticipated sophomore album, “This is All Yours.” Though still filled with moody synthesizer hooks characteristic of the band’s style, the new record marks a point of musical growth for the young Leeds-based trio.

    “This is All Yours,” structured similarly to “An Awesome Wave,” is intended, perhaps, to be a conceptual sequel. Both albums begin with an “Intro,” have at least one instrumental interlude, contain a version of “Bloodflood” and consist of 14 tracks. With some exceptions, lead singer Joe Newman’s crooning voice floats over gritty synth and punchy percussion, though the synthesizer is less overbearing. The new album, though still dark and catchy in true alt-J spirit, is slightly lighter than its first album; the nostalgic “Arrival in Nara,” the twangy, country-esque “Left Hand Free” and the blissful “Warm Foothills” are clear deviations in style for the band. While themes in “An Awesome Wave” include gang rape and the true story of a photographer’s tragic death, “This is All Yours” focuses more on relationships and love, with lyrics ranging from the sweet — “love is the warmest color” — to the erotic — “turn you inside out to lick you like a crisp packet.”

    In an additional departure from “An Awesome Wave,” the new album evokes a distinctly pagan atmosphere, with churchlike vocal harmonies, haunting cries, acoustic folk instrumentals and lyrical references to nature. The songs “Arrival in Nara,” “Nara” and “Leaving Nara” are in reference to Nara, a city in Japan known for its wild deer. “Hunger of the Pine” contains a sample from Miley Cyrus’s “4×4,” with the pop star singing, “I’m a female rebel.”

    With catchy hooks and a darkly electrifying sound, “This is All Yours” is, after a quick listen, quite similar to “An Awesome Wave.” Yet there is something a little more optimistic, joyful and mature about alt-J’s second record that sets it apart from the band’s first release two years ago. It is clear that the trio does not attempt to exceed its own natural style; each track is the raw representation of a unique emotion — be it desire, anger, contentment, nostalgia or hope — expressed in the band’s own terms.

    Share on

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Google +
    • LinkedIn
    • Email
    Previous articleDavis Museum opening spotlights faculty work
    Next articleIn the spotlight: Alison Savage talks art and inspiration

    You may also like

    The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes: What’s happening in Hollywood?

    Digging into Hozier’s Unreal Unearth: “De Selby (Part 1)” and the Population of Loss

    Summer Releases to Help Usher in Fall

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    The Wellesley News

      SECTIONS

    • News
    • Features
    • Opinions
    • Arts
    • Sports
    • Multimedia
    • Projects
    • About

      ABOUT

    • Contact
    • Join the News
    • Masthead
    • Editorial Board

      RESOURCES

    • Advertising
    • Submission
    • Subscribe

      CONTACT US

    • Contact
    COPYRIGHT © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS