Review: GAYNGS - Relayted
May 20th, 2010
GAYNGS Relayted [Jagjaguwar]
Need to know: GAYNGS was spearheaded by a Minneapolis dude named Ryan Olson and members of Solid Gold. The goal? To record something as brilliant and tripped out as the greatest (not in) love song ever: 10CC’s “I’m Not In Love.” Like any good project, however, the ideas began to snowball and soon he brought in members of Megafaun (Joe Westerlund, Brad Cook, Phil Cook), The Rosebuds (Ivan Howard) and Bon Iver (Justin Vernon and Mike Noyce) and rapper P.O.S., among others. And then voila! A kooky soft rock supergroup was formed.
In a few words: While they were hoping to sound like 10CC, GAYNGS take this concept and run with it. Nothing is inside of the box here. “The Gaudy Side of Town” introduces a funked up, R&B sound full of elasticity, “No Sweat” trickles out shimmering, trippy piano chords for a slow jam that is punctuated by a sexy sax solo, “The Beatdown” descends into a freaky free session of dubbed-out psychedelia and “False Bottom” is a droning dirge that sinks into a pit of madness. There’s even a cover of Godley & Crème’s “Cry,” which is pretty faithful to the original with the exception of some extreme screwing and chopping that allows them to put their own stamp on it. GAYNGS may not have accomplished their original goal, but Relayted is an expression of artistic laxity full of repeated highs.
Best track: “The Gaudy Side of Town”
R.I.Y.L. The Flaming Lips’ Embryonic, 10CC, Ginuwine, Bon Iver, Solid Gold
Rating: 8/10
Buy, download, steal or don’t bother: Buy the CD.
Sample: “Cry”
Website: gayngs.net
Tags: GAYNGS
Posted on Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at 3:10 pm by Cam and is filed under Reviews, The New Music.
