Album Review: Ra Ra Riot "The Orchard" (via Parkland Prospectus)

A friend handed me the CD and had this to say about it:

"It sucks and sounds nothing like their previous work."

That was all that I had to go off of with regards to Ra Ra Riot's new album, The Orchard. Quite frankly, that was terrifying. Here I was still reeling from the 2008 release of their dazzling album The Rhumb Line and now I'm told that their new material is crap? I was crushed.

Could it be true? Could new Ra Ra Riot indeed suck something fierce? It wouldn't be surprising, as this tends to happen to wildly popular debut bands and albums. They start out strong, but then fizzle with their follow-up musical efforts *cough, MGMT, cough*.

Luckily, Syracuse locals Ra Ra Riot have produced yet another outstanding album with recording and mixing assistance from Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla. And Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij even chipped in to help with mixing a track, because why not? Batmanglij and RRA's lead vocalist Wes Miles routinely collaborate for their side project, Discovery. But that's an entirely different story. Let's focus on the album.

The Orchard is classic Ra Ra Riot, blending Wes Miles' voice with the usual alt-rock drum, bass and guitar, as well as the unique sound of classical string instruments like the cello and violin. At first listen, you think that the album is going to be slow paced, as the title track is very…well…slow. But the tempo definitely picks up with the faster tracks "Boy" and "Too Dramatic." And a nice surprise awaits listeners when they get to "You And I Know," because lead vocals come from cellist Alexandra Lawn.

I definitely like this album. I like that it sounds like old Ra Ra Riot and new Ra Ra Riot at the same time, and I like that they haven't lost anything between albums. Pitchfork (that popular, Chicago-based, online music magazine) gives The Orchard a 5.7 out of 10, but I personally think they could've went a teensy bit higher. This is a great album and totally worth giving a listen to. If you need more convincing, you can always maneuver your way through the Interwebs to their site at www.rarariot.com or request their music on WPCD 88.7 The Wave.

For questions or comments about this article, music and 88.7 The Wave, email Patches@887thewave.com.