Yeasayer - 2080

Sometimes a song doesn't click after first listen and often times the best ones take multiple listens before you "get it." Such was the case with "2080" by Yeasayer. A few months back I added this track to a long playlist and though I enjoyed it, the song didn't stand out terribly more than anything else I heard that day. A few weeks went by and the 2080's turn on the playlist came and went and though I was unaware, it was slowly ingraining itself into my mind. I was then fortunate enough to catch the song performed live and that's when it all came together. The sounds I had been hearing in my head were not only executed well live, but the best portions of the song were even enhanced by impassioned deliveries and an interesting stage backdrop. Yeasayer follows in the footsteps of the Talking Heads & Tears For Fears in blending modern musical equipment and forward-looking sounds with the very primal roots of music. The song begins with on an ominous tone with Chris Keating belting out "I can’t sleep when I think about the times we’re living in, I can’t sleep when I think about the future I was born into..." The song effortlessly transitions between several melodies and vocal tempo changes all connected by a chorus complete with soothing harmonies. Yeasayer then puts their signature on the song by abruptly interrupting everything with a round of chanting before dissipating back to keyboard, guitar and then the chorus once again. The dynamic works well for Yeasayer and with "2080" they have one of the best songs of the last few months and the growing buzz to prove it.