Team Genius

Raman recommends: Team Genius

DL: drop.io/teamgenius

we're entering flake period of MusooKlub, where people's reviews/listening are getting further and further behind (including those of yours truly). this week i'm stepping in for my pal Kana, as the lawyerly world of lawyering has her completely knackered. let's get on with the review though (and see some raman/klub updates further below).

why i like it: i REALLY dig this album. like 5-out-of-5 (so i'm gearing up for the inevitable heartbreak that comes when the rest of you destroy my reco ...i especially fear the wrath of Ben's unrelenting 1's). 

the nerdly-fun of Team Genius' music and themes just kind of get in your head and don't ever want to leave - in a good way. i discovered them a year or so ago when my pal Derrick was visiting NC and wanted to check out the (Brooklyn-based) band of his OSU cross-country pals (billed as "the fastest band in rock and roll"). 4 guys, 4 girls. 2 are brothers, 2 are sisters (no relation). all are ridiculously well-mannered, good-looking, hip, and talented (the nerve of some people!). turns out my NY-(non evil)-banker buddy Ryan also fraternizes with the band. so naturally i've seen them a few times locally, and shared a beer with 1-2 of them on a more than a few occasions. just think of them as a friendlier, peppier version of the Arcade Fire (those guys are total downers!), esp since the guys and gals of TG are all known to switch up instruments while dancing onstage mid-show (except for Scottie, who's apparently too busy drumming and not taking his shirt off, much to the chagrin of fellow band-mates and fans alike, a running joke). so give it 1-2 go-rounds and you'll hopefully be a hooked and definitely happier person (unless of course your name is Ben, bc there's no pleasing that guy :).

favorite tracks: 

#1: take me home

#2: surely the sun will explode

#3: sing song

#5: ABC

#6: the wise ones all give up

#10: while we're asleep

...hell just listen to the whole album, it's all pretty awesomesauce

about the band (reviews posted on TeamGeniusMusic.com):

"Toss in eclectic and harmonic arrangements, infectiously robust singing, an inspired sense of pure go-for-it audacity and creativity, and the net result spells -WINNER- all the way. A gloriously flaky and idiosyncratic one-of-a-kind doozy.” - Joe Wawyrzniak, Jersey Beat
“Despite the dorkiness (or perhaps because of it), the songs are curiously infectious—short anthems that are neither sweet nor sour. Singer Drew Hermiller’s brand of unintelligible wit is obnoxiously charming, like a cruder more pubescent Weezer (without the endless self-doubt).”

raman-updates: since we all already know more of eachother's music by the second go-round, i propose sharing a few life updates so we can all get to know eachother a little better outside of work (i am trying to form some community here, centered on music, but stretching beyond). so what's new with me? i went to the middle east (Syria, Jordan, Dubai) a few weeks ago - pics/blog/video here. i started a new top secret project at work that has me commuting way more than i like. my girlfriend and i are currently looking at lots of grown up expenditures like: new cars, apartments, expensive jewelry, alaskan cruises, and even ireland. my sister's getting married in a few months (the inevitable family insanity ensues), as are a few other close friends (musooklubbers Kana and Jieun included). i'm starting to get excited about the summer movies - esp Scott Pilgrim, Toy Story 3, and of course, Iron Man 2 (though i'm bracing for disappointment with the Last Airbender, Prince of Persia and Robin Hood). i'm even more excited about the latest volumes of some outstanding comics releasing this summer: Scott Pilgrim V6, Invincible V5, Walking Dead V5, Ex Machina v9, Ultimate Spider-Man V5. i'm currently reading Reza Aslan's No God But God - an analysis on Islam's foundations, because despite my own religious affiliation of any kind, i find the overall subject fascinating. oh, and i'm finally making the switch to MAC - my 13" MacbookPro arrives Thursday.

klub updates: as we've progressed along, i also wanted to share a few thoughts on improvements to the Klub:

1/2-stars: i was originally opposed to halfsy-ratings, thinking 1/2 stars in ratings was a slippery slope to a 10-point system, etc. however, rating albums weekly is harder, especially since you're placing so many albums side-by side. so we're sticking with a 5-star system, but now allowing halfsies. feel free to go back and retroactively rate any albums in the spreadsheet or previous posts.

membership removal: at the end of the first rotation, anyone who hasn't participated gets dropped (executive decision!), and we'll bring in replacements (i've got a few people in mind, but please feel free to send your suggestions my way).

allowing observer-listeners: how's the group feel about "observer only" members? currently nothing is really stopping any of you from sharing the Klub link to friends (but i assume no one has). should we be OK to invite in a broader group of FRIENDS (no friends-of-friends) to listen + post reviews in the comments section (but not the spreadsheet)? if we find their "observer/listener" inputs engaging/insightful, the Klub can then nominate/vote for them to join as a full-member/poster (naturally, we'll have to set a cap on this). feel free to weigh in below. we won't take action on this one without consensus though.