The Pelican’s Perch

Not too long ago, I mentioned to Justin that I had been listening to the new Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s double album, since he had booked them at Randy Bacon’s twice to that point and we both were big fans.  Instead of getting the usual “how is it?” response, he immediately said something I completely agreed with.  “I’m sure it’s good, but there’s something about their debut that has become a part of us, a part of our lives, and no matter how good this new album is, it’ll never change that fact.”

After multiple listens to Margot’s new music, Justin’s statement ends up being very true.  With The Dust of Retreat, we found the members of Margot entering the music world without any pressure.  The songs were about youth, love, heartbreak, and anything in between.  But what made them flow so perfectly in their debut, seems almost forced in this new one.  Maybe it’s just me not being able to look past the feud between the band and their new label.  Nothing ruins innocence and love for making music like a label telling you which songs to put on your album.

Can you tell my bitterness towards the current music industry model yet?  And to think, I went and started my own record label because of these very situations bands find themselves in all the time.  But enough about all that, let’s get to the bread and butter here, Margot’s new album, Not Animal.

It’s true that Not Animal doesn’t quite stand up to their debut, but amidst the various releases this year, it’s easily among the top 10, if not making it into my top 5 of the year.  It’s that good.  The argument about which release is better, Animal! or Not Animal is one I’ve discussed with many people.  Not Animal, the label’s selection of songs, does feel ultimately more coherent as a whole, and the stand-outs feel much more like Margot gems than those found in Animal!, but if the song selection were up to me, I’d say both the band and the label were wrong.  There are songs the label wanted that I don’t agree on, and songs the band wanted that I think are too slow.  I think it’s a slippery slope comparing the two, and it’s a half empty/half full argument with the two albums, where you can say it’s two whole albums of new Margot, or you can say I wish only one existed, so that’s all I had to think about.  Complicated, I know.

“A Children’s Crusade on Acid” is probably my favorite song on these new releases, behind “As Tall as Cliffs” and the 6 minute opus “Mariel’s Brazen Overture”.  Some songs falter, like “Real Naked Girls”, even though it could fit in a Wes Andersen flick with that synth part, and “At the Carnival”, which I find myself skipping quite a bit with it’s under the sea filtered vocals.

Where Not Animal feels more coherent, Animal! gets points for it’s abundant use of strings (always a plus in my book), and overall more rocking, adventurous feel to it.  For the most part, the songs kept for both albums are basically the best of the bunch, so everyone should be happy.  Most of you won’t hear Animal! unless you download it, or buy the vinyl only copy.  Looking at the tracklist for Animal!, I can point out maybe three that aren’t on the commercial release that I’d consider someone “missing out” by not getting both.  But I’m plenty content with Not Animal, and most of you will be too.

What it ultimately comes down to is they’re both good albums.  Not Animal will get all the press, reviews, and money thrown at it by the label, and while I didn’t like the feud leading up to it, I have no problem promoting the heck out of that album to people as well.  If you’re a Margot fan, by this point you’ve heard both albums, so this is just rehashing something you already know.  I meant to review these earlier, but I figured I’d give both albums an equal chance to soak in, and not that I have, I’m happy with both for different reasons.  I’d recommend heading to the store asap, picking up Not Animal, and enjoying it immensely.  I’m sure most of you will.  Those of you that are more adventurous will order a snazzy vinyl copy of Animal!, and feel great about that decision too.  I guess what I’m saying is that Margot’s back, I still don’t like the major label system, and there’s something here for every Margot fan to enjoy.

Such a complicated review for such a simple point.  But hey, that’s what I do.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s
Not Animal
Perch Score: 8.945

A Children’s Crusade on Acid [mp3]

As Tall As Cliffs [mp3]

Animal!
Perch Score: 8.422

Official Site / Myspace
Buy Not Animal HERE
Buy Animal! on vinyl HERE