A Rare Occurrence

It’s a beautiful September day. The air wraps around you as you make your way to the parking lot. You take a minute to prepare yourself for the forthcoming journey. Since you will need the precise musical accompaniment along the way, you choose the self-titled album from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. It begins to play.You hear the sound of a voice through a megaphone chanting: “And away we go.” At that moment, your trip begins. As you travel along the highway, you slowly become enraptured. Before you can say: “I’m on a road to nowhere,” the whoosiness of the first two songs conjure up images of a new-wave hero, famous for wearing a gigantic suit. The raw emotion of the Dylan-esque “Details of the War” leaves you stunned as you try to maintain your focus on the road. Things quickly become revitalized with the sugary bounce of “Is This Love,” which takes subtle cues from the Feelies and Neutral Milk Hotel. Though you are focused on dancing, you quickly realize your exit is approaching. The hazy, early Lily’s influenced “In This Home On Ice” puts you at ease as you approach your final destination.

The grand finale “Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood” kicks into overdrive, recalling the vocal anxiety of classic Violent Femmes and the sonic gusto of the Pixies. Your mind is sent reeling, spinning in utter delight. Suddenly, you feel a sense of déjà vu. You look around and realize you had never left the parking lot. It was all a dream. You were seduced by a musical odyssey, which captures the essence of all great pop music.