Often a year-end EP release serves as a cleansing of inferior material. This is thankfully avoided with Dirty Projectors’ About to Die EP, as the art-rock band continues its evolution into more melody-friendly terrain. Since the sunshine-pop title track was already a highlight on the magnificent Swing Lo Magellan, it’s easily the best song here. But other songs, such as the blissed-out stomper “Here Til It Says I’m Not” and the meditative “While You Are Here” (written for the late TV on the Radio bassist, Gerard Smith) are also excellent. About to Die is indeed a companion piece, but it’s also a much deserved victory lap for one of today’s most exciting bands.
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2012.
