The Meadowlands
While it may seem presumptuous to label the Wrens as pastoral, naming an album the meadowlands certainly doesn't counter it. Actually hailing from New Jersey, this fourpiece toes the line between cosmopolitan sophistication and suburban simplicity, reflected in the dreamy, crescendoed melodies. After 7 years in legal hiatus, their third longplayer has garnered early acclaim (or notoriety), and its contents sound, as a result, cathartic and releasing. Magnet Maganize has already lauded the record as one of the 60 best within the last ten years. Meadowlands was recorded over 4 years from 1999 to 2003.
Track 4 has a Pavement-esque progression and swagger with more sober lyrics
Track 5 recalls Clarity-era Jimmy Eat World complete with string arrangements and rockin' repetitive riff
Overall the album portrays the Wrens as directed toward a more indie-pop trend, maturing along the lines of Spoon, Steven Malkmus, and even Death Cab, yet finds them more experimental with instumentation and arrangement. But the album still whirs, whizzes, and pranks like 1996's Secaucus.
-- Tom Powers
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2003 KWCW.
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