Parallax

Atlas Sound

If last year’s Halcyon Digest was Deerhunter’s dreamy album, consider lead singer Bradford Cox’s third solo LP under the Atlas Sound moniker to be REM sleep. As the album began I immediately felt I was in familiar territory, right where Halcyon Digest left off. By the time “Amplifiers” kicked into gear, the reverbs already had me drifting into an altered mindset (no, I was not on drugs).

What separates Parallax from previous Atlas Sound and Deerhunter albums in that Cox focuses more on tightening up the lyrics to hit the listener with more emotion (though the background music and lush sound loops are as good as they’ve ever been). Which is not a bad thing because it allows the songs that do have powerful lyrics to shine even brighter, like the supremely catchy “Mona Lisa” – with MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden on keyboards and backing vocals – and the depressing “Terra Incognita.” It’s here that Cox is really able to make his voice heard and really puts the listener in his shoes. The album does end on a hopeful and more cheerful note with “Lightworks” with its uplifting guitar strumming complimented by a soulful harmonica.

While it doesn’t revolutionize Atlas Sound’s style, Parallax is more like a further step down the rabbit hole that is Bradford Cox’s mind. Simply put, Parallax is the one of the best indie rock albums of the year. It makes great background music, while at the same time it’s an album that really envelops the listener in deep thought and builds Cox’s credibility as a songwriter.

Recommended Tracks: “Amplifiers”, “Mona Lisa”, “Terra Incognita”, “Lightworks”