Liars - They Were Wrong, So We Drowned

In 2002, Liars tore apart punk, dismantled noise and inverted funk to create one of the most self-assured and prolific debut albums ever. And my ears loved it. But after parting ways with their much-lauded rhythm section and retreating into the forests of New Jersey, Liars return with departure of sound with They Were Wrong, So We Drowned. More specifically, Liars’ sophomore album is a loosely constructed album of scattered noise, fractured and inconsistent rhythms, campfire chants, noise-imbued guitar lines, nonsensical lyrics, and unmelodic rustlings. Rolling Stone cast it off as unlistenable and Spin scored it an F, but, the truth is, They Were Wrong, So We Drowned is an album that will carry you only as far as you’ll let it: After enough exposures, it casts an indistinct and murky spell over you, luring further into the half-realized songs. It’s fitting, then, that the album itself is a storyline detailing witches. They Were Wrong is a clumsy, unorganized, and awkward mess of an album, but this is undeniably Liars at their heart. It’s not for everyone, but those willing to wander into the mist and follow the path this album blazes will be rewarded. But don’t be surprised if you trip and fall a few times on the way. [www.liarsliarsliars.com]