Like Cat Power, to whom she's often compared, San Franciscan songbird Thao Nguyen evolved over time from indie folk gal-with-guitar and sparse (if any) accompaniment to full-blown bandleader. On her second outing for Kill Rock Stars -- whose former bossman Slim Moon was so taken with Nguyen's talent he's become her manager -- Nguyen pretty much picks up where she left off last time in terms of presenting a sound that fully incorporates her band, the Get Down Stay Down, but this is the first album to be credited to the collective rather than just Nguyen, which is probably not insignificant. Something else that hasn't changed is Nguyen's ability to wring peppy tunes from emotional angst. A not so subtle clue can be taken from the album cover, where Thao and pals merrily puncture a party pińata that looks like a giant human heart. If anything, the dichotomy between the buoyancy of the arrangements and the brokenheartedness of the lyrics is more pronounced than ever, especially on the post-breakup blues title tune, whose tagline Thao intones repeatedly over a rapid-fire rhythm as if she's trying to hypnotize herself into making better romantic decisions in the future. For the sake of her art, those who have been listening long enough to care are bound to hope that doesn't happen. For their part, the Get Down Stay Down provide plenty of propulsion as they throb, bob, and weave their way through Nguyen's songs, giving them a lot more rhythmic subtlety than your average indie rockers. Occasionally, Nguyen's folkie roots still show through, but only for scant moments, before the plaintive guitar arpeggios are absorbed into the Get Down Stay Down's visceral swoop. That said, the production (a return engagement from Tucker Martine) remains relatively economical throughout, leaving plenty of room for Thao's distinctive warble/weep to unfold its tales of passion spent and soured.
An unassumingly seductive album, simultaneously groove-ridden, playful and melancholic.In early 2009 the venerable Kill Rock Stars was once again rewarded for good taste when Thao Nguyen's much lauded second album became the label's best seller of 2008. If that album, We Brave Bee Stings and All, was taking a playful distance on growing pains to adulthood, Thao & Co.'s third album, Know Better,...
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The good folks over at Yours Truly put together a great video of Thao (of with The Get Down Stay Down fame) performed for a small group in Lexington, KY."Know Better Learn Faster" has been a cog in my musical rotation over the last month. Thao's voice is both subtle and impassioned at various points. Musically, the track shows lots of different influences; when coupled with the drumbeat, the ...
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More foot-stompingly amazing indie pop from Thao And The Get Down Stay Down off of the just-released-two-weeks-ago (and actually pretty great that it serves as Kill Rock Stars' 500th release) album Know Better Learn Faster, "Cool Yourself" is full of...
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In my previous post about how awesome Daytrotter is, I forgot to mention that I would LOVE to do that sort of thing. Have bands come to me locations and record stuff, it would be even better if they came to my living room and got drunk while I also got drunk and someone talented with a video camera taped the whole thing and some other person who is also talented but with editing put it all toge...
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An unassumingly seductive album, simultaneously groove-ridden, playful and melancholic.In early 2009 the venerable Kill Rock Stars was once again rewarded for good taste when Thao Nguyen's much lauded second album became the label's best seller of 2008. If that album, We Brave Bee Stings and All, was taking a playful distance on growing pains to adulthood, Thao & Co.'s third album, Know Better,...
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Thao and the Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster This weekend I finally got to witness the talented Thao Nguyen rock out on stage at...
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Thao Nguyen—whose 2008 record We Brave Bee Stings And All turned heads with its shimmering and fuzzy guitar pop—has returned with her third full-length, the consistently pleasing Know Better Learn Faster. Here, the only changes come in the form of a shortened band name and a few notable guest appearances, including folks from Blitzen Trapper and Horse Feathers. The title track features a violi
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 "Know Better Learn Faster")
