The fourth 31 Knots release and their first for Polyvinyl, Talk Like Blood, is a crucial album for the Portland trio, but one that I believe is up to the task. At this juncture in their career, where they're bound to receive the best and most noticeable early press, lead vocalist and guitarist Joe Hagge has stepped forward with the best proof possible that he can write amazing lyrics and play the right notes to accompany each of them. There is a betrayed sorrow underpinning almost every chord, usually contrasted with some form of elegant sample or distorted, filtered effect. It's fashioned like The Eels' Electro-Shock Blues, but it's decidedly more abstract punk than Mark 'E' Everett's blues. The fucked up Amelie accordion in "Intuition Imperfection" that plays underneath lines like "I remember Ritalin and all the days, oh boy, before it came to stay/ All the kids in study hall, shooting up or jerking off into their new jeans/ And Demerol would dance in their dreams" are, to me, both easily witnessable testimony that 31 Knots has true passion for creative music with something original to say. And it's probably the reason they won't become MTV darlings -- not that they care about that anyway. Personally, I don't listen to a fantastic amount of new guitar-based music these days, so what I like often falls to the less popular demographics; but I know Talk has not only the consciousness and experimentation I look for, but also the catchiness and quality my peers respect.
1. City Of Dust
2. Hearsay
3. Thousand Wars
4. Intuition Imperfected
5. Chain Reaction
6. Towering Steps
7. A Void Employs A Kiss
8. Proxy And Dominion
9. Talk Like Blood
10. Busy Is Bold
11. Impromptu Disproving
More about: 31 Knots
