The Sound of A Million Hearts

The Band: Bodies of Water

The Song: "I Guess We'll Forget The Sound, I Guess, I Guess"

The Album: Eyes Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink

Ten Word Description: Honest joy, sung by choruses of bohemians from craggy rooftops.

Notesplosions: Few indie bands from LA's mud pit of a music scene have made as big a national splash as Bodies of Water, and I admit to being a bit of a latecomer to the bandwagon. This isn't for lack of trying; I picked up their initial three-song EP at Amoeba the day of its release, but was discouraged by a lack of musical organization and quickly tired of the group. The EP faded into memory, was smashed in my car, and Bodies of Water left my consciousness as quickly as they had entered. But, with or without my oh-so-unimportant endorsement, his foursome-plus-more has exploded out into the world with their mix of choral refrains and quietly chaotic noodling. "I Guess We'll Forget The Sound" proves they deserve to be there.

The heart of this song doesn't kick in until the 3:30 mark, but that doesn't mean the song is empty in its lead-up. Quite the opposite, Bodies slowly build a world for the song to inhabit, defining tempos, silences, choral preludes, etc. Rather than establishing a basic song and resting comfortably on laurels, as would be their right, the band decides to use their "verses" and "choruses" to create a snowballing momentum that leads the listener into the joyous, rooftop-shouting refrain that makes up the song's later half. By the time 3:30 rolls around, you've been prepped, spiced, and ready to cook, like a lobster blissfully unaware of immanent boiling. And if, by the four-minute mark, you aren't singing along like a screaming crustacean, you might as well go jump in a steamer pot, there's nothing left for you here.

There WAS a Take Away Show featuring our new favorite Angelinos, but it has since disappeared (replaced with the equally splendid St. Vincent). I'll keep my eyes open, and if I see anything, I'll let you know.