I WAS WRONG

Every now and then I come upon an album that doesn't entirely sink in until well after my review, and I feel like I owe the artist an apology, because initially I gave them a mediocre review when in fact they created an incredibly dense and complicated work that not even I got on the first few passes. Some albums grow and grow and grow, and end up on top 10 lists at the end of the year when we never thought it possible. Already for me there is an album that I initially bagged on that now like Jack says to Ennis, 'I simply can't quit.' That album is Cloud Nothings' self-titled debut. I don't think there has been a single album since "It's A Shame About Ray" that I have hummed the hell out throughout the day. I listen to this album now at least once, usually twice, a day to satiate my need to hear these addictive brilliant pop-punk tracks. Of all the albums I have heard this year, this is the one that owns me, and my family, and everyone I can play this enough times to wear down their resistance. Buy this now. This is the kind of music that we all live for. Here is my initial review, but forget that. Just buy this and enjoy throughout the year, because it really is an amazing album regardless of what I said about it at first.

"Been Through"


"Nothings Wrong"

Cloud Nothings - Nothing Wrong from RADAR MAKER on Vimeo.

CLOUD NOTHINGS - S/T (Carpark)

Cloud Nothings was one of 2009's most exciting musical discoveries for me. I could not get enough of "Turning On," an amazing premier collection of singles and eps by the one-man punk-pop tour de force that is Dylan Baldi. "Turning On" hearkened back to the days of SST, Homestead and Twin/Tone Records, while introducing Baldi, a fresh new talent with a deft ear for melody and emotional delivery equal to his uncanny ability to play "loud fast rules" as ferociously as the legendary bands that populated the indie-punk landscape of the late 80s and early 90s. As someone who came of age during that time and considers the music that fell between Hüsker Dü and Archers of Loaf sacred, Cloud Nothings were like mana from musical heaven to my ears, especially in a time when vacuous Reagan-era dance music has become more important to indie "rock" than the sounds that blasted out of Minneapolis during the 80s; sounds that saved so many of us who lived through that horrible decade.

Suffice to say, I was more than a little excited by the release of Cloud Nothings' first proper full length, hoping to hear more of Baldi's melodic ferocity before it became too refined, as is often inevitable in these situations. On this account "Cloud Nothings" does not disappoint. Unfortunately, unlike on "Turning On," Baldi's songwriting suffers from a consistency problem here that makes the whole affair rather hit or miss, although, to be fair, it is more hit than miss.

The record leads off with a string of killer jangle-punk rockers that furiously lurch forward only to stop on a dime just in time for the delirious bridges, breaks and other essential linchpins characteristic of classic punk rock ragers. I promise you that if "Not Important" doesn't have you thrashing about and pogoing as Baldi spits out his lyric sheet, then you probably don't have a pulse, and you certainly aren't punk rock enough to be reading this review. Yet, not all is filth and fury, the song comes to an end with a melodic and even kind of pretty epilogue. "Should Have" follows and vers into pop-punk, a genre very seldom done right, fortunately Baldi makes it work here, with addictive hooks and a chorus that sticks with you, even while it is kind of precious. "Forget You All The Time" slows things down and sounds a little like a long lost Archers Of Loaf demo, which is never a bad thing.

Where the album goes wrong, making it less of a killer listen than "Turning On," is that it suffers from some forgettable tracks in the dead center of the record and at the end. "Nothing's Wrong," is just too fluffy to be memorable after its initial sugar rush. "Heartbeat" also sounds fairly anemic compared to what Baldi is capable of. It's an odd song, because it's actually pretty well constructed, it just lacks the umph behind the best Cloud Nothings songs. "Rock" gets things back on track with a barn burning no-nonsense punk rocker. Baldi breathlessly screeches out the refrain "you loved me, but now we're both dead" like it was 1987 and it's fucking glorious. "You're Not That Good At Anything" grabs onto the energy of "Rock" and keeps it rolling with another furious rocker. Next up is "Been Through." If the album had ended on this track I would have almost forgiven its soft center. It's a natural closer; insanely energetic, melodic, anthematic, and easily one of the record's best tracks. Unfortunately Baldi doesn't stop there, instead he includes two second-rate numbers to close "Cloud Nothings" out on a forgettable note. "On The Radio," and "All The Time," are rote pop-punk and that's about all I can say about them without getting nasty.

In the end, seven of "Cloud Nothings'" eleven tracks are absolute keepers. The other four are weak-ass tracks simply not worthy of Baldi's catalog. This is all to say I love Baldi, I really really love him, and think he has a songwriting talent that precious few have, but he needs to learn to separate the wheat from the chaff. My advice to him is this: if it sounds like Green Day - that is the chaff. Throw it the fuck out and breathlessly focus on "loud fast rules" all the way to 11.

"Should Have"

"Should Have" - Cloud Nothings from John Ryan Manning on Vimeo.

"Rock"

BEST OF 2010, or 9 (albums) Richard Skelton "Landings" (Type) Cloud Nothings (Bridgetown Records)

Before I get started on the long hike through 2010's albums, let me pause for a second and recognize two excellent albums that should have been on my Best of 2009 list. Part of the joy in reading these lists is discovering records you may have missed throughout the year, and even fanatics like myself let things slip through, so here are two records that came out in 2009, but deserve extra attention here.

The first is the hauntingly beautiful "Landings" by Richard Skelton. It's drone, it's neo-classical, it's ambient, it's shimmering, it's dark, it's light, it's one of the most perfect experimental records I have ever heard, and would have placed very high on any year end list, had I heard it in time. Full review here.

Richard Skelton - Landings by _type

The second, Cloud Nothing's "Turning On" came to my attention with this year's reissue on Carpark records, but was originally released last year on Bridgetown Records. "Turning On" was a slice of Perfect Sound Forever lo-fi indie rock, heavily indebted to some of the 90s brightest heroes of indie rock like Archers of Loaf and Seam. Once this album gets its hooks in you they remain in you. Full review here.

Cloud Nothings "Hey Cool Kid" from Project Fathom on Vimeo.

CLOUD NOTHINGS - Turning On (Carpark)

Cloud Nothings' "Turning On" is exactly the reason why I am a music obsessive. It's that moment of unexpected discovery that every music geek seeks, and the reason we spend endless hours hunting and gathering new sounds. It's the kind of record that comes out of nowhere and hits you immediately in the sweet spot. It may not be a perfect record, or it may not be one that will objectively change the world, but it's the kind of record that gets its hooks into you from the get go and won't leave your stereo for days on end, because it's a slice of the perfect sound forever that we relentlessly seek.

"Turning On" collects Cloud Nothings' eps and singles from the past year or so, which is a boon, considering Cloud Nothings has yet to release a full-length recording. And who are Cloud Nothings? Well, Cloud Nothings is a single 19 year old from Cleveland, of all places, named Dylan Baldi who channels early 90s lo-fi indie rock to perfect effect. Coming off like an even noisier Archers of Loaf circa "Icky Mettle," Baldi's bedroom project is as emotional as it is catchy. And the real beauty of the whole undertaking is that it seemingly comes out of nowhere. It's one of those albums that hasn't gotten so much hype that it makes the rewards contained therein expected, hence the reason this feels like such a treasure to stumble across.

The record shoots out of the gate with "Can't Stay Awake," a single that combines so much of what is great about lo-fi indie rock; bang and bash percussion support fuzzy guitars that sound both sloppy and precise at the same time, while Baldi barks out quasi-punk vocals with a catchy refrain, all of which climaxes with an emotionally blistering guitar denouement before returning to that catchy refrain for one last hurrah. The whole thing last under two minutes, but that is all the time it will take for Cloud Nothings to get its hooks in you. What follows is a steady stream of lo-fi punk/pop bliss. It's hummable, tappable, lose your shit and air-guitar greatness.

Influences move in and out of the picture on "Turning On," but nothing sticks around long enough to taint Baldi's own unique talent. Hüsker Dü and the Byrds hover around the edges of "Old Street," but only slightly. The ghost of Seam and early Superchunk, as well as the aforementioned Archers make a brief appearance on "You Are Opening," while Real Estate and the Pixies color "Turning On." Yet, while certainly these and many other touchstones will make at least the feel of this album somewhat familiar, Baldi's incredible singular songwriting is his talent alone, and it is a talent that elevates Cloud Nothings into a project beholden only to itself. Least anyone doubt that talent consider that everyone I just named were bands of three or more members, whereas Baldi is a singular kid whose vision and talent is on par with those groups. 'Nuff said, really.

Of course eventually Baldi will drive a stake through the heart of purists like myself and clean up his sound, much like Nathan Williams did earlier this year on "King of the Beach." Already in interviews he has expressed his desire to move away from "Turning On's" lo-fi haze. Certainly he has the skills to craft something rather wonderful in a full studio setting with all sorts of shiny new equipment, but there is a pristine charm present in the murky production of these pop gems that will likely be lost. My advice, grab this now and revel in Cloud Nothings while you can before Baldi buffs out all the beautiful, wonderful rough edges that makes "Turning On" the singular pleasure that it is.

P.S. I wouldn't feel right finishing this review without mentioning the song "Hey Cool Kid," which one of the best I've heard all year. Full of snarling sarcasm the track is an instant classic.

"Hey Cool Kid"

Cloud Nothings "Hey Cool Kid" from Project Fathom on Vimeo.

"You Are Opening"

Cloud Nothings // You Are Opening from NervousRoomService on Vimeo.

"Water Turns Back"

Cloud Nothings // Water Turns Back from NervousRoomService on Vimeo.