Band : Marnie Stern
Album : This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That
Release Year : 2008
Genre : Mathrock | Noise | Indie | Experimental
Release Year : 2008
Genre : Mathrock | Noise | Indie | Experimental
Tracklist :
1. Prime
2. Transformer
3. Shea Stadium
4. Ruler
5. The Crippled Jazzer
6. Steely
7. The Package is Wrapped
8. Simon Says
9. Vault
10. Clone Cycle
11. Roads? Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads
12. The Devil is in the Details
Just by looking at the title of the album gives the listener an insight for the ride the record will bring. Based on an Alan Watts quote, the title is more than just a shared interest in Watts literature between Marnie and drummer Zach Hill (yes, that Zach Hill). Quirky, fun, and all over the place-- the title shares many similarities with Marnie's music. A flurry of two-handed finger tapping and spastic drumming, This Is It... is technically astounding. Although it is not fair to categorize Stern's music as purely technical, however. The music never overwhelms or wows the listener like many math rock bands tend to do. Instead, Stern keeps her two-handed tapping under control and leaves space in between the chaos for the listener to breathe. Drummer Zach Hill is known for his eccentric and blistering playing, but he keeps his beats under control, letting Marnie's guitar work and vocals take the spotlight. That does not mean that Zach's playing is dull and simple; in fact, Marnie was forced to tour with an iPod filled with Zach's drum tracks when she was unable to find a drummer that could play his work. It is hard to pin down the music to just one genre. Very experimental, yet filled with pop hooks, This Is It... is it a genre all its own.
Unlike Stern's debut album In Advance of the Broken Arm, This Is It... relies less on math rock cliches, and more on what is going on in Marnie's head. Filled with more two-handed tapping than a Tera Melos record, In Advance of the Broken Arm fell into the common pitfalls of many math rock records. This Is It... shows Marnie taking a step away from her influences, and stepping into her own mind. One of the best tracks on the album, "The Crippled Jazzer", Stern utilizes two-handed tapping sparingly, focusing more on groove than guitar wankery. The song will have you nodding your head as it progresses while Marnie uses her voice and guitar to reel you in. Stern's voice can go from smooth and soothing to a high pitched whine. In either case, Stern's vocals are always uplifting and happy, trying to motivate herself and whoever is listening. Stern uses pop sounding vocal hooks along with guitar hooks to make every song a fun listen. Her lyrics are cryptic but understandable, repeating phrases such as ""He was just 1 like a prime number/He was devoid of plus" in the opener "Prime", to reciting math equations in the quirky "Clone Cycle". Vocals and math rock typically do not go hand in hand, but Stern uses her voice to follow the craziness of the music in a way that feels right. Marnie experiments with her voice just as much as her music, almost always matching her vocal melodies to the speed and feel of her guitar lines. The experimentation and emotion put into This Is It... is what makes it an excellent album.
This Is It... is an incredible piece of music. Experimental and original, Marnie Stern has created a near perfect record. Drawing from her influences in the math rock world, but incorporating her emotions and ideas, This Is It... is a standout album in the genre. Marnie Stern should be held in the same regard as her favorite bands, hopefully inspiring a new wave of female guitar virtuosos.
2. Transformer
3. Shea Stadium
4. Ruler
5. The Crippled Jazzer
6. Steely
7. The Package is Wrapped
8. Simon Says
9. Vault
10. Clone Cycle
11. Roads? Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads
12. The Devil is in the Details
Just by looking at the title of the album gives the listener an insight for the ride the record will bring. Based on an Alan Watts quote, the title is more than just a shared interest in Watts literature between Marnie and drummer Zach Hill (yes, that Zach Hill). Quirky, fun, and all over the place-- the title shares many similarities with Marnie's music. A flurry of two-handed finger tapping and spastic drumming, This Is It... is technically astounding. Although it is not fair to categorize Stern's music as purely technical, however. The music never overwhelms or wows the listener like many math rock bands tend to do. Instead, Stern keeps her two-handed tapping under control and leaves space in between the chaos for the listener to breathe. Drummer Zach Hill is known for his eccentric and blistering playing, but he keeps his beats under control, letting Marnie's guitar work and vocals take the spotlight. That does not mean that Zach's playing is dull and simple; in fact, Marnie was forced to tour with an iPod filled with Zach's drum tracks when she was unable to find a drummer that could play his work. It is hard to pin down the music to just one genre. Very experimental, yet filled with pop hooks, This Is It... is it a genre all its own.
Unlike Stern's debut album In Advance of the Broken Arm, This Is It... relies less on math rock cliches, and more on what is going on in Marnie's head. Filled with more two-handed tapping than a Tera Melos record, In Advance of the Broken Arm fell into the common pitfalls of many math rock records. This Is It... shows Marnie taking a step away from her influences, and stepping into her own mind. One of the best tracks on the album, "The Crippled Jazzer", Stern utilizes two-handed tapping sparingly, focusing more on groove than guitar wankery. The song will have you nodding your head as it progresses while Marnie uses her voice and guitar to reel you in. Stern's voice can go from smooth and soothing to a high pitched whine. In either case, Stern's vocals are always uplifting and happy, trying to motivate herself and whoever is listening. Stern uses pop sounding vocal hooks along with guitar hooks to make every song a fun listen. Her lyrics are cryptic but understandable, repeating phrases such as ""He was just 1 like a prime number/He was devoid of plus" in the opener "Prime", to reciting math equations in the quirky "Clone Cycle". Vocals and math rock typically do not go hand in hand, but Stern uses her voice to follow the craziness of the music in a way that feels right. Marnie experiments with her voice just as much as her music, almost always matching her vocal melodies to the speed and feel of her guitar lines. The experimentation and emotion put into This Is It... is what makes it an excellent album.
This Is It... is an incredible piece of music. Experimental and original, Marnie Stern has created a near perfect record. Drawing from her influences in the math rock world, but incorporating her emotions and ideas, This Is It... is a standout album in the genre. Marnie Stern should be held in the same regard as her favorite bands, hopefully inspiring a new wave of female guitar virtuosos.
