Pale Young Gentlemen: Black Forest (Tra La La)

Pale Young Gentlemen: Black Forest (Tra La La) Black Forest (Tra La La) is the second album by Madison, WI's Pale Young Gentlemen. Last year, I Posted about their self-titled debut, calling it one of the best self-released albums on 2007. This year their sophomore album has graced my desk and it seems a lot has changed. The bad still plays vintage chamber rock similar to the Decemberists or Neutral Milk Hotel. On their debut they seemed to be leaning more towards raucous pop, but now they seem to be embracing atmospheric rock. With their use of orchestral instrumentation and singer Mike Reisenauer warm tenor, makes the album sounds a lot like Coldplay's latest offering Viva la Vida. That's not to say they've completely given up their rockier side. "The Crook of My Good Arm" has a Decemberists' "Billy Liar" quality to it, but for the most part Black Forest shows us a much more subdued side of PYG. The album has some great tracks on it, but towards the end a lot of songs blend together. There is only so much plucking on guitars with strings in the background you can listen to before it melds into one long song. Rating: 6.6/10 MP3: Pale Young Gentlemen "The Crook of My Good Arm" Buy: iTunes