The American Dollar — Awake In The City. 2012 ; Yesh Music. ~ [ Album Review | 1) Headphone Commute + 2) Muzik Dizcovery + 3) Postrocker ]
1) Although I haven’t really covered The American Dollar on Headphone Commute in the past (I don’t think), I have been indeed listening to this NYC based duo since their debut in 2006. Back then, Richard Cupolo and John Emanuele self-released a self-titled debut which blended elements of ambient, shoegaze and post-rock into one sonic cocoon, in which I used to hide during the cold winter months. A year later, the group self-released The Technicolour Sleep, and on the following got signed to Yesh Music with the release of A Memory Stream. In 2009 I still kept up with The American Dollar’s release of Atlas. And since I’ve been meaning to write about The American Dollar, I might as well start with their very latest, Awake In The City. Cupolo and Emanuele compose acoustic textures with slight hints of electronic percussion, soaring guitars, and cinematic keys, the likes of which will appeal to fans of Lights Out Asia, Hammock, God Is An Astronaut, Epic45, Explosions In The Sky, The Album Leaf and Port-Royal. The major harmonics on the album leave you with a sense of well-being, ready to kick start a brand new project, or throw yourself into another busy day. This is a wonderful opening to my morning commute across the concrete jungle as pavement is brimming with sunlight and fumes. And although Awake In The City does not break any grounds in terms of evolution of sound, it does nevertheless feel like ‘home’ – and that’s a well desired attribute in music – that’s the one that makes me want to reach out for another spin again and again. File somewhere before emotional electronica and after the post-rock.
2) The American Dollar is two guys in New York City, creating music amidst the rush and sounds of living in a busy place. Coupled with their own musical influences, it seems that a lot of their inspiration is the city itself. Most of their album art is relevant to living in a metropolis that burns bright, and the music on this particular album really reflects that. Awake In The City is a beautiful compilation of songs that help to reveal a new side of New York, and a strain in music that is rarely seen - music with real beauty. John Emanuele and Richard Cupolo harness their surroundings, their own musical prowess, and the tools they have available to them in order to create a truly beautiful record, packed with emotion. In a city known for business, power, and people, Emanuele and Cupolo show the listener a city with heart, emotion, and life.
The music on Awake In The City differs from releases like Atlas in the sense that it all seems very refined. Maybe not necessarily controlled, or uncontrolled, at that instance, but with polish, and finesse. That may be from a musical advancement over the years, but I think it also represents the structure and flow of the city. Maybe not everything is refined and orderly, but I think it's a pretty cool parallel to draw, and it's a very neat comparison when you look at the album art and imagine what Emanuele and Cupolo are thinking when the music is playing. While on the idea of musical advancement, though, I do think there is a certain finish that the new release presents that some of the others lack. I can't really put my finger on it - maybe something between the raw, instrumental sound versus the airy, well-tweaked post-rock quality, or perhaps something about the orchestration of the songs and the album, but the songs sound fuller, more rich, and more lively. It's really worth the time for a listen to compare releases such as A Memory Stream to the current release in order to try and check this hypothesis.
On the music of Awake In The City, I think it's absolutely brilliant. The American Dollar covers pretty much all the bases on the album, and it has a little bit of electronic flair (well, I guess you could say more than a little bit with all of the synths, but it kind of falls second to noticing what's created by the music) that makes everything just wonderful. With a dash of trip-hop on "Strings" or "Urbana" contrasting wonderfully to the instrumental masterpiece "Heavy Eyes Ignite", sounding something like a slow Mogwai anthem, it's just a vivid coupling of music. Then, when you set it along side an open, echoic piece like "Oracle", you realize just how subtle some of these touches are, and The American Dollar begins to fade as an image of a band, and instead starts to come forth as a reflecting pool. You stand at the edge, peering forth, expecting to see merely your reflection. What comes out is both more dynamic and profound than the surface level, because what comes out is a realistic countenance of who we really are - human.
Awake In The City means a lot musically. It's not just a musical reflection of New York, or a general metropolis, or of people, but a musical representation of everything. From society to humanity's effects on transforming a natural bounty into a bustling cultural center, from active night life to the early hours of the day where you find out who a person really is, and from a passing from the naivety of existence in childhood into the understanding of the world in adulthood. This album is growth, life, success, activity, but also passivity, failure, death, and most importantly, acceptance. No matter who you are, you will find some emotional tie in this album, I can guarantee it. This album is undoubtedly special, and it has a powerful effect that renders me both vocal and speechless. Exactly what it means to you is up to how you perceive this album, and the world around you, dear listener.
3) After almost a two years wait, The American Dollar launches their new EP titled "Awake in the City". Ambient / Postrock bliss? Read the verdict here! I have to admit that I was longing for a new The American Dollar album for a while now. One year ago I discovered this great band and since then I'm addicted to their music. A couple of months ago, I featured the song Glow in the Must-Hear Postrock category and posted a couple of Timelapse videos with the American Dollar Band soundtracks. I even used one of their songs for my own private photoccollage. That's just the thing about this band, their music really suits the atmosphere of cities and landscapes.
Awake in the City is their latest full-fledged album and there is hope that this album continues to amaze listeners to dreamlike tunes featuring the characteristic electro / synth samples we're used to. Opener Faces in the Haze really delivers and is a safe haven for the fans. The piano sounds, little electro touches and spanish guitars feel very comfortable and really pleases my ears. Halfway through the song, there's a small WTF-moment that's surprising but doesn't detract from the overall stellar quality of the song. It's a great opener for things to come.
The Album's second track is called Heavy Eyes Ignite and has a slower approach than opener Faces in the Haze. The American Dollar's ambient influences are coming through and at 2 minutes in the song, the loudness kicks up a notch and delivers another quality song that would really work in timelapse video's to come. This song really makes you "feel".
Ether Channels continues this state of mind. A funny thing about this song is that the background-synthesizer is constantly pitching at a higher tune when the song progresses. It ends in a calm and almost serene way with the piano playing an easy rythm. First Day has an air of optimism in it. 2/3rd into the song, this track kicks up one step with a great tune that feels a bit too short.
Right in the middle of the tracklist, there's Steeltown part one and part two. Both songs could be combined into one song because the end of part one flows naturally in the beginning of part two. I really like the easy-listening chanting vocals in this song and I'm interesetd in how the results would be if The American Dollar incoporates this in more songs. Steeltown part one as an inidividual song doesn't feel complete, but the transistion into part two works and the latter is a great upbeat tune.
Track number eight Strings isn't bad, but in my opinion it's a bit lifeless. It just doesn't hold my attention or gives me the same feeling as some other tracks. Luckily, Crossing Asia's opening catches my immediate attention due to the distinctive beats and the Asian sounds you'll hear. When the Asian sounds combine with the electric guitar, I can imagine me walking in Tokyo again and amaze at the neon and skyscrapers. Someone make a Tokyo Timelapse with this song, thank you kindly!
As we float is a track that sounds a bit too generic. It gets lost in the other songs that sound the same but have a better tune / rythm. The beginning of Urbana almost sounds like a dance track and has a techy feel. High pitch sound effects and a very different beat than most songs. Friends of friends beginning has a lot of similarities with the Ambient one and Ambient two releases, but really opens up to a full sound with mysterious tunes in it which I like a lot. The final track titled Oracle is a worthy finisher that recalls all good tunes that make the music of The American Dollar worth your time and money.
In conclusion Awake in the City isn't an album that renews The American Dollar. It's not an album with risky decisions or whatsoever, but I don't mind. The songs on this album create a city-sound that inspires me to travel. Every day I travel by train to get to work and this music really fits. The American Dollar succeeds in creating another album that, while travelling, makes you think about all the possibilities we have to see and visit places. It's the ultimate city-sound which you can really enjoy when you see the fading lights while travelling by train or when you're walking outside under the moon and stars. It's also a great album to listen to when you're reading a good book or relax after a day of hard work. The American Dollar continues to create emotionally moving tracks that avoids negative thoughts. It's really soothing, creative, positive music that a lot of listeners will enjoy. Awake in the City is highly recommended!
