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Article: Field Manual
- Article from:
- The Stranger
- Article date:
- January 31, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright The Stranger Jan 31-Feb 6, 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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CHRIS WALLA
Field Manual
(Barsuk)
** 1/2
Chris Walla's solo debut starts with a captivating choir comprising his voice layered and a cappella-he, himself, and him beautifully sing, "All hail an imminent collapse/You can fumble for your maps/But we're exhausted by the facts."
It'll stop you when you hear it-you'll listen closely, you'll want to hear exactly what the hymnal voices are singing. The song is called "Two-Fifty," and it's the perfect track to open Field Manual, an exaggerated introduction to a record saturated with pretty sounds.
As early Death Cab for Cutie shows, facing off against the cherubic Ben Gibbard, Walla's attempts at background vocals sounded weak and uncomfortable. At ...