Grimes
Art Angels
As the year begins to wind down, Grimes has decided to release an insane monster upon us all; a monster so powerful, and massive that anything other than sheer awe would be an act of stoic apathy.
Three years ago, Grimes released what may have been (and still might be) the most beautiful experimental electronic album ever. Brilliantly produced, Visions put Grimes in the public eye with a combination of inventiveness and curious fascination.
Art Angels, however, is NOT Visions. Apart from the three years of experimentation, heavy touring, and poor reaction the (non-album) single "Go" all clearly having influenced the sound, this is an entirely new direction for Grimes. Art Angels is pop at it's very best, and electronic at it's most creative.
The songs here are not ethereal wanderings or strange sonic experiments like Visions, or even more so her first two albums; though there is plenty for the high-brow listener to pick up on, the base of what is found on Angels is more immediate, and based in beat rather than setting.
Grimes' massive library of influences is more patently evident as well. "Kill V. Maim," the album's highlight and one of the best songs of the year, is straight off Bowie's Outside, and "Venus Fly," maybe the best hardcore dance song of this or any year, pulls straight from Health's brilliant Death Magic--and of course, Janelle Monae's contribution, while subtle, is absolutely perfect.
What's most obvious here is that Grimes has set herself up for a better live experience. Many of the songs are road-ready, like the female-empowerment of "California," the arena-rock blast of "Flesh withouth Blood," or the club beat of "Realiti." Everything here is geared towards making her live shows more inclusive and dance-able.
All things considered, going mainstream is never a bad idea if you can still maintain your identity, and Grimes has done exactly that. Art Angels is devious--a vaporwave album in dance-pop clothing--and just when you're convinced Grimes lost her way, the caustic beat will show you she's just on the road less traveled.
