Reviews

Caribou

Start Breaking My Heart / Up In Flames

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Review Date: 2006-09-21

When friends strongly suggest that I listen to a band, I usually consider the source first; if it’s a source I trust, I will take the initiative to hear the band. Some of the best music I have ever come across fell into my lap this way. I mean, isn’t that the entire function of this website, in a less direct way? So, it remains a mystery to me why I didn’t take these friends’ advice when it came to Manitoba, now known as Caribou.

When The Milk of Human Kindness was released, the noise became impossible to ignore. Dan Snaith lost a legal battle and was forced to change Manitoba’s name; hence, Caribou was born. The Milk of Human Kindness was instantly embraced -- and adored -- by the indie rock scene. Critics lauded it with praise, hip bands like the Flaming Lips named-dropped Caribou as new music they were into, and all the indie kids (myself included) took the bait.

Now, this happens all the time, right? And a lot of the time, the music ends up being a colossal disappointment. But not with Caribou -- the album was everything it was built up to be. Every time I’ve set foot in a used CD store since, I’ve scoured the racks looking for the older Manitoba releases. Much to my dismay, I always come up empty handed.

My dismay was cured when I heard the announcement that Caribou was re-releasing Start Breaking My Heart and Up In Flames from his Manitoba days. What we have here is two supersized enhanced editions of the original releases, loaded with b-sides and singles that were released around the time. What we also have is a massive amount of music for one reviewer to consume -- or for the reader to consume, really -- so I’ll try my best to keep it brief.

Start Breaking My Heart is the oldest of the releases, originally surfacing in 2001. Fans of Caribou’s new release might originally be alarmed to hear something sounding more like Fourtet or Boards of Canada; I know I was. That shock wore off in about fifteen minutes when it sunk in that what I was listening to was rather wicked. My sentiments changed somewhat on the second disc, as the b-sides and other songs selected to turn it into a double CD struggle with repetition and honestly get boring. It reminds me at times of when Moby was a dance artist -- and those, my friends, were scary times -- and other times it sounds like Diet Caribou. Why would I want that when I can have the real thing?

“People Eating Fruit” is the pinnacle achievement on Start Breaking My Heart. My world literally stops for six minutes, no matter where I might be. The vocals are nothing more than part of a scale spliced up and shifted around the way you’d expect, but they are mesmerizing. The six minutes go by feeling like three and leaving you wishing it would never end because when it does it’s back to reality for you.

If there is a precursor on the album to where Dan Snaith would be musically in 2006 it is “Mammals vs Reptiles.” In 2001 it sounded almost as if Snaith was stretching musically in trying to make this song, but by 2005 he had it mastered. The acoustic drums on this track make the song, and in the future there would be more of this to come from Caribou. After a lull of surprisingly average offerings from Snaith, “Lemon Yoghourt” works much like an alarm clock, bringing you back and captivating you again. It’s easily the shortest track on the album, but it also packs the most punch.

This is a good album and it is satisfying to see where Caribou’s style came from. It is, however, sorely lacking in melodies at times; it isn’t a coincidence that “People Eating Fruit” uses a melody and is hands down the most memorable song on the album.

SCORE: 7.6 2003 found Snaith taking the next step in his progression, albeit not an obvious progression, with Up In Flames. Snaith no longer obviously reminded you of other people who had done this style of music before. He sounded like a man with a vision, abandoning the dancier, more predictable elements of Start Breaking My Heart and moving towards what we now know and love as Caribou. In that sense, it really was a bold recording at the time and it’s still fresh and current in 2006. This is the resonance of a musician realizing their potential and delivering.

The album is a pillar of consistency in the early going. Songs like album opener “I’ve Lived on a Dirt Road All My Life” show Snaith trying out some new tricks and different influences. “Jacknuggeted” experiments with increased vocals and melodies and is very successful in doing so, but it all -- for me, at least -- is a build up to the final two songs.

“Crayon” and “Every Time She Turns Round It’s Her Birthday” are instantly memorable. “Crayon” has an uber-happy childlike feel to it with chimes (or maybe it’s a xylophone, I’m not sure) and drums that could be played on a Fisher Price drumkit, for how basic they are. To me, it almost sounds like sunshine; this is affirmed with the inclusion of children laughing and dogs barking. If you aren’t smiling when this song ends, seek therapy.

The album ends with “Every Time She Turns Round It’s Her Birthday,” an epic eight-minute ride that I, for one, would stand in line to take again. All that works on Up In Flames is incorporated in this final song: from the use of melodies, to the free jazz breakdowns, the live instrumentation and of course, the hyper drumming. I probably call songs massive too often, but this is the definition of a “massive song.” So if you ever wonder what I mean, use it as a reference point. It’s a brilliant find stashed at the back of the album.

As for the bonus stuff, well what am I supposed to say? It sounds a lot like bonus stuff sounds, in most instances. A band with b-sides to get excited about is usually the exception and not the rule. It isn’t any different for Caribou. Yeah, these b-sides are better than the majority of music being released, but in contrast to the album itself they suffer. Including the videos for “Skunks” and “Jacknuggeted” is awfully nice of Mr. Snaith, however. They took his name away, but they’ll never take the music. If you are like me and for some foolish reason you don’t own the Caribou back catalogue, stop being a douche and get on it already.

Up In Flames: 8.7

Score: 8.15

Readers of this site will find this humorous. I was listening to the records almost all day today and at one point Terri asked me “What is this bleepy-bloopy stuff you’re listening to?” I told her and her answer was “You know, it’s actually pretty good.” I thought there would be peace in the Middle East before I’d hear those words out of her mouth.

- Dan