Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 11/30/1999
Expertly produced by
David Fridmann,
Home's release of
XIV is a near note-perfect experimental pop album. Effortlessly jumping from excellent piano-driven ballads like the weary
"Chicago," which almost recalls
the Kinks, to
Flaming Lips-like psychedelic rock on
"The Fable of Salty Water" and
"Aguirre (exterior)," the expansive aural landscape is remarkably accessible. While there is certainly a progressive rock element at work here,
Home is also more than capable of rocking with a live organic feel, as with the upfront drums and vocals coupled with dramatic tempo changes on
"Burden" or the sunny pop of
"Truly Judy." Very reminiscent of
Pavement-style lo-fi rock,
"So Much Love" is quickly answered with the counterpoint of the lush musical suite in
"Children's Suite 3: Displaying Prisms." What truly sets this release apart from bands like the proliferation of artists in
Elephant 6 is the ability to combine experimentation with a tight musical focus. The noisy avant-garde jazz of
"Contract" is balanced by roaring distorted guitars in
"Thunder & Lightning," making this an incredibly varied effort. Though 1999 has been hailed as the year of the pop masterpieces, via the ambitious projects of
the Flaming Lips and
Wilco,
Home's
XIV is a gloriously sweeping pop album that emerges all too rarely.
~Matt Fink, All Music Guide
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