Published on August 19th, 2012 | by greg
0Yeasayer: Fragrant World:: Review
Yeasayer’s third album Fragrant World is an awkward adolescent of an album that shows progression from their sophomore effort Odd Blood. Much like the adolescent, Fragrant World is a fidgety, hyperactive and somewhat anemic record that skitters around without any definite direction. Listening to Fragrant World is somewhat oft-putting because of the many different directions that the band seems to be taking. Opener “Fingers Never Bleed” plays with a stop/start rhythm section highlighted by a sour synth and hints of the dreaded auto-tune effect. “Longevity” has no shame and is an auto tune fanatics dream, whereas “Blue Paper” almost delves into a stolen George Harrison/Beatles-like melody.
The first single, “Henrietta,” delivers an airy keyboard interlude that doesn’t feel forced and easily trumps the schlocky 90′s dance beats of “Devil and the Deed,” warped skittering funk of “No Bones” and complete cheese of “Reagan’s Skeleton.” The bleeps and bloops of “Demon Road” and “Damaged Goods” almost salvage Fragrant World but the misplaced experimentalism of “Folk Hero Shtick” sinks things to an almost subterranean level. The narcotic “Glass of the Microscope” closes out the album in fine fashion while leaving the listener bewildered as to the true nature of Yeasayer.
Rating: 
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