Clap Your Hands Say Yeah -- Some Loud Thunder

Ah, the quintessential buzz band. After forming in 2004 and self-releasing its debut album the following year, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah began compiling a scrapbook of articles containing phrases like "Best Unsigned Band" or "Hot Newcomers to the Indie Scene." Those words have the ability to act as a vicious poison if the band fails to deliver on such grandiose praises. However, Clap Your Hands has plugged through the initial ego massages to release its sophomore effort, Some Loud Thunder. I understand the amazing word-of-mouth acclaim the group has gotten. I mean come on -- pair the band name with the sound and the finished product loses its voice from screaming, "Look how damn hip I am." Don't get me wrong -- some of the elements of Clap Your Hands' latest venture are beautifully orchestrated. Tracks like "Satan Said Dance" and "Underwater (You & Me)" have such differing personalities that you have to appreciate how the group can move so well from quirky, noisy songs to atmospheric, glowing melodies. The group also makes good use of a host of peculiar instruments throughout the album. I appreciate the music's occasional ability to seamlessly move through a variety of dynamics, but Alec Ounsworth's grating vocals can just straight-up annoy. The whininess of his voice at times make me want to reach through my speakers, slap him and tell him to stop singing out of his nose and purposely cracking his voice. In essence, I think Some Loud Thunder got a little ahead of itself in trying to justify its hype. The album's OK, but eventually ends up confusing itself. Keep your eyes on the used CD bin, though. If you find it there, I say purchase. (KW) Grade: B-