Search - Annuals :: Be He Me

More emotional creative indie rock for the mid-oughts

Mister Charlie | Los Angeles, CA | 03/23/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I haven't heard The Annuals live, I haven't read press about them, I don't know anything about them, but somehow I ended up with this "Be He Me" record. I love approaching music that way.



Anyway. Look, some folks see great harm in comparing a band to other bands, but really it's still probably the best way for a newcomer to get their bearings and decide whether they might be interested. So, here I go... I hear the oft-mentioned Arcade Fire similarities, the emotional sometimes shouty vocals and changes in dynamics, I hear a little of the Animal Collective weirdness (the album challenges your patience with almost 2 minutes of burbly noise to start the 1st song off before the big rock songlet "Brother" kicks in), I hear a bit of Van Dyke Parks/Beach Boys inventiveness (I don't give a cr*p what anyone says, I see the fact that indie bands are willing to waltz as a good thing). "Carry Around" has a kind of Modest Mouse sprinkled w/ '70s funk/lounge thing. I might guess that this is a young band that cut their teeth on both U2 and Neutral Milk Hotel. (Heck, the last 20 seconds of "Bleary-Eyed" sound like an outtake from "Unforgettable Fire").



I feel like the album drags towards the end with two longish (and longing) tracks that seem less interesting and focused than the rest of the album.



Having said all that, I applaud these Annuals for their creativity. While this album is a little bit lacking in great melodic ideas, it's got great energy and here's hoping they'll keep recording and growing."

Best albumn in a while

Daniel Larkin | 10/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ill start off by saying that it's been a while since I was blown away by a new band. A friend of mine gave me a copy of the Annual's 5 song EP, Big Zeus, and I was instantly hooked. Three of the 5 sings from Big Zeus made their way to Be He Me, but unfortunately, they left my favorite song, "Ease My Mind", off. Be He Me starts off with a bang of emotion, a drum driven anthem that begs you to sing along. Throughout the course of the the next 11 song, they wind their way through every genre you can shake a stick at, blending them all into a wonderful storybook of an albumn. I can't say stongly enough how much I enjoy listening to this record. I can't wait to see them live."