Women - Women (2008)
The debut album by Women might forever live in the shadow of its younger brother, the sophomore Public Strain (2010).
The band's unique brand of trebly, angular dueling guitars and unconventional rhythm section stylings was definitely already present when they created this album, albeit in a shorter and rather unfocused presentation. Whereas their sophomore is praised for its consistent quality, this one should be recognized for the height of its peaks. I wouldn't hesitate to say that their best songs are in this album.
Clicking on the album cover will redirect you to the album's RateYourMusic page, where you can find links to it on the streaming service of your choice!□□■■■ | 10
Cameras
Surely a brief introduction. It honestly sounds pretty different from the rest of the album, with som emore accessible composition, but at least we're exposed to the hazy, reverb-drenched vocals that characterize the album right off the bat.
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Lawncare
Dry percussion and hostile guitars are a heavenly combo =w= and they welcome the vocal style much more nicely. The urgency of this track is something I always enjoyed, especially when the last verse kicks in and it's bookended by that sour guitar feedback roar. And then the percussion completely stops and the feedback is left to ache in the foreground...
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Woodbine
It gets almost misanthropic that after that sonic battering, you get a drone track thrown at you. And such a cold one at that... I can feel the subzero breeze pricking at my skin when it comes on. I grew fond of it though; after some intense repeat listening of the album, it just began to make sense. Both pitches of it xD
Listen! ■■■■■ | 4
Black Rice
That ray of sunshine you would have wanted comes in the form of this track. Easily the cheeriest, brightest song they recorded. The glockenspiel is of great help for this whimsical sound (which the drummer plays himself live! It must take quite a bit of control to pull that off o_O). Such a cutesy stomp.
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Sag Harbor Bridge
Anything will sound evil after the last song, and I think that contrast put this track in a great position, sequencing-wise. The most nonchalant clean guitar shredding in a banjo-like flair paints a bit of a grim sonic picture about the suicide spot of artist Ray Johnson. I was obsessed with the dissonant guitar work in here - my Last.fm showed that for a while.
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Group Transport Hall
Then there's this one with quite a campfire song feel, which I like despite it being perilously close to stomp clap hey. But it's dark! And also there's this droning vocal part that adds SO MUCH in ambience to the track. As well as some more glockenspiel!
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Shaking Hand
Everybody should agree that this is the centerpiece of this album. As great as other tracks in here might be, this one features them at their strongest. Prog enjoyers might like it too for all its weird time signatures! Find me another song with a main riff in 15/8 + 14/8. The way they play it is quite snappy, too. The downstroke onslaught in the "chorus" sections truly settle the "punk" in their post-punk labeling. But it's the coda during the last third that seals the deal, bringing the track pretty high before the bittersweet outro :') (in 11/8 + 15/8!!)
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Upstairs
This one starts off quite cutesy, with the bassline leading the sonic space. And while it's not quite noteworthy for its first half, it takes a left turn halfway through. The guitars take the lead back and send this portion soaring through sheer tension. And also a viola for good measure :o
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January 8th
Then this track limps its way in (how do they make guitars sound so broken?), and begins picking up the pace achingly to land onto some bludgeoning verses, with some unpredictable meter going on. Despite being so short, it packs in just the adequate amount of anxiety.
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Flashlights
"Limping" is also an accurate description for the guitars in this one, ever so freeform in their strumming. It tries to pick itself up, and finds some momentum in noisy distortion, erecting quite a terrifying tune which assaults you until it shortly gives way, with soft strumming guitar to mourn its last breath.