KONRAD: Loose Canyons

By Lyndsey Matthews

August 19, 2008
Originally published at CMJ.com

Midwestern musician Jeffrey Konrad has gone by many names for his numerous projects, including the fanciful "Nigel Jeffrey" and the straightforward "Konrad." On his electronic-leaning "Konrad" debut, Loose Canyons' released on his own Radical Turk imprint--he showcases many sides of his eclectic personality. The record is wholly unique. He draws from an amalgamation of influences that run the gamut from funk to folk to hip-hop.

On the bouncy "Girls Gone Wild," he deftly marries Hot Chip's thumping electronic beats to Man Man's manic vaudevillian vocals. Konrad's voice is pleasantly reminiscent of Stephin Merritt's uncomplicated baritone. The track "Twinkle Toes" could even be mistaken as a missing track from Magnetic Fields' classic, 69 Love Songs. His unperfected and raw vocals layer well over expertly crafted beats and blips that cruise along at a variety of speeds and moods, making this the soundtrack to a dance party and a lazy afternoon all at the same moment.


Tracklist For Loose Canyons :

01. Nunchucks
02. Kites
03. Osh Kosh
04. Girls Gone Wild
05. These Nights
06. Twinkle Toes
07. Shapeshifting Marathons
08. Canyon Blue
09. Litigate
10. When Worlds Collide
11. Chicken Choke


Web: konradmusic.net