The Album Leaf
Into the Blue Again
(Sub Pop)
No surprises from the fourth record by The Album Leaf, basically Californian singer and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy LaValle. The compositions here tip to the experimental, post-rock realm. Not surprisingly, LaValle has recently toured with Sigur Ros. LaValle cleans up the many tracks that go into a single song. This is a carefully balanced and tweaked record, which deprives it of a relatable soul. This could be a complaint with the whole genre, not just the Album Leaf. Perhaps hearing LaValle in a less controlled recording environment could have benefits. For now, the closest we get is when he sings and he does that well enough here.
—Sean Flinn
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
