Sunday, April 29, 2007

Dntel - Dumb Luck



It all began in 1994 with Jimmy Tamborello's project as Dntel. Over the years, however, Tamborello acquired another alias as James Figurine, one-half of The Postal Service. Jimmy "James Figurine" Tamborello's music was innovative in The Postal Service as well as within his solo projects. One of James Figurine's albums, Mistake Mistake Mistake Mistake has some of the best tracks on a modern electronica album to date. "Pretend It's A Race and I'm Winning" has incontrovertibly remained as one of my favorite songs for "thinking" [among other verbs]. James Figurine and Dntel's music is reminiscent of that ambient electronica genre which dates back to Brian Eno's Another Green World of 1975; and still, Tamborello modernizes the genre by incorporating modern technology, guitars, and serene vocals (collaborations with Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley among others in "Roll On.")

Dumb Luck is something new, but it maintains that traditional pop aspect to it. It is abstract enough for one to think "ooh ahh, how new," but it is commercial enough for a hipster to say "this is too mainstream for me." These elements to the album cancel each other out, and they create an equilibrium that everyone can enjoy. All the tracks on the album are pretty much reserved for times when relaxation must relieve stress. "Rock My Boat," "Dreams," "Breakfast in Bed," and "I'd Like To Know" are my personal favorites on the album, but I am parcial to the majority of the songs.

The flaw on the album, I feel, is the Roger O'Donnell Mix of "Rock My Boat." Tamborello's attempt to make the song jazzier by removing the drumbeat is a mistake. This remix, unlike the Gudrun Gut's Natural Remix of "Natural Resources," is unnecessary.

Regardless, I highly recommend this album. Flee this page and walk to your local record store, or just scroll down.

Download:

Dntel - Roll On (ft. Jenny Lewis)


also: I beg you check out Dntel's video for "This is the Dream of Evan and Chan" --its older.

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