In a sense, Veckatimest is what happens when a bunch of ridiculously talented musicians think their way so staunchly through their songs that the end result is something a little too polished, a little too perfect. But this isn’t just a case of excessive studio sheen, as that knob twisting isn’t significantly more spit-shined than on the exceptional Yellow House; instead, it’s the instrumentation itself that adheres so closely to the “right” way of doing things that much of the magic of discovery and mistake is lost. Still, this isn’t to say that Veckatimest isn’t a wonderful work, because it is. But how about this: is it possible for an album to be a sweeping, marvelous success in so many ways, yet still, at the end of the day, feel like a disappointment? To that question, Veckatimest says yes. more ›