Label: Dischord
Released: October 10, 2006
Joe Lally’s first solo release is largely an album of rhythms. Although there is occasionally other instrumentation, most of the songs are bass, percussion and vocals (and even the vocals are more rhythmic than melodic). In most cases, this would make for a pretty dull album of self-indulgent fluff, but not so on There to Here. Much as he did with Fugazi, Lally keeps the rhythms compelling at every turn. The drums are thin and sharp under Lally’s fluid bass lines. His vocals use cadence more than melody in a way that elludes even most hip-hop artists and brings attention to the seriousness of his words. The structure and instrumentation of the songs certainly take them outside of mainstream music, yet the album isn’t a tough listen. Most albums of this nature would be a challenge to get inside to appreciate, but this one draws you in almost as if it had pop hooks.
Rating: 8.0 / 10