Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman Alec Ounsworth released this solo album earlier this fall. Ounsworth has transformed his sound from rock/indie to jazz/blues, recording this album in a studio in New Orleans. Accompanied by what sounds like a bad high school jazz band, Ounsworth’s voice is all but drowned out here by the banging of percussion instruments. When you can make out his voice, you’ll notice he seems to be only opening his mouth halfway and singing through his nose, which may have added to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s unique sound, but here it is far from an asset. At the times when his voice is recognizable, chances are listeners won’t understand what he’s saying due to his lack of pronunciation. The whole effort sounds muddy and rushed. I won’t be clapping my hands or saying “yeah” to this one.

Published in Volume 64, Number 10 of The Uniter (November 5, 2009)