Arcsin(100) have heart. I’m reminded of the best of early grunge and indie pop while I get this through my head. My closest comparison would be early Sebadoh. However, perhaps everyone might not be familiar with Sebadoh or other forms of the stripped-down, emotional sound Arcsin(100) employs. Think of this album as “Shaggy Dog” rock.
This is a sprawling album. An album with 24 tracks can be daunting. Don’t let it be. Really there is every reason to enjoy it. Each song is well-done and themes pop in and out of the album. Having themes means you can grab a couple songs and realize how well they fit together.
“Newton” starts things off. In the beginning, it sounds reminiscent of a band off the Siltbreeze label, with the loudness and distortion. Remember the short-lived genre “Shitgaze”? Well, Arcsin(100) remembered it well with this song and a few others on here, specifically this one and the fuzzy “Realize Nothing”.
Most of these songs are more acoustic-based. All are lo-fi. I don’t think Arcsin(100) could keep the same level of intimacy if they choose a higher-fidelity format. With their approach, they manage to remain a bit closer to the listener. Having silly lyrics certainly helps as well.
Due to the many songs, I have a few sections which I particularly enjoy; specifically “She got hit by a Car” to “NASA”. “NASA” has some silly-sweet lyrics. My favorite line from NASA has to be the smile inducing “It’s the future/and everyone hates Earth”. As I was called a ‘spacey kid’ for more times than I can possibly count I enjoyed the day-dreaming hopes of the singer.
“The Light Lines” to “00110” would be my other favorite section of songs. “Diesel Engine” is the best song on the album for me. While I listened to this I lay down on my bed, sweating doing nothing. Arcsin(100) wrote the song specifically for that purpose. I’m certain of it.
I’m always excited when I stumble upon something this instantly enjoyable. You don’t have to do any elbow work. Jeff Lownsbury has already done it for you. This is fantastic.