polaroids of androids

Liars, one of the more progressive and experimental artists of the past few years are back with a new album. Ok, so those that were freaked out and couldn't handle the ambitiously weird Drum's Not Dead have probably stopped reading by now. But those read on may just learn something about the new self-titled effort that peaks their interest in what turns out to be one of the better albums of the year so far.

Recorded around the same time as Drum's, Liars moves closer to song structures that most will be familiar with, while still maintaining the out-there approach that the band have employed in their work of late. The organic, unforced production gives the album a gritty crunchy texture that evokes images of a garage band's demo on steroids; the raw, live energy of the band comes across, without the repercussions of having to record with shitty equipment. The result makes for an album that is simple enough to throw on and thrash about to, but also possessing enough layers to warrant and encourage multiple listens.

The album really comes into it's own during tracks such as Plaster Casts of Everything, Freak Out and Clear Island, where the monotonous droning, combined with relentless rhythm and repetitive grinding riffs becomes too much for you to resist tapping your feet and nodding your head in agreeance of how damn cool it is.