By Roan Enright ’13
THE BRONCO BEAT

Cloud Nothings – “Attack on Memory”

8 .0 out of 10

As 2011 was coming to a close, people started to arrange their New Year’s resolutions; I guess you could say that Cleveland indie rockers Cloud Nothings just wanted their music to rock harder.

With the release of “Attack on Memory,” the band’s third album, front man Dylan Baldi has brought his project from his parent’s basement to earning a spot on a spot on Pitchfork’s 2012 Best New Music.

Baldi’s Cloud Nothings are black when they should be white; the Cloud Nothings change their musical style like an insecure teenager changes their look.

With the release of their first single “No Future/No Past” I thought they were going from a warm poppy style to a slower more profound style.

But no one anticipated the diversity that “Attack the Memory” displays.

Once “Attack on Memory” came out, one question formed on my mind:  Why did they go soft?

One possible reason for the sound shift could lie in their experience touring with bands with softer styles.

In any case, it’s a welcome change: the album sounds great.

Songs like “Wasted Days” and “No Sentiment” contain fuzzy lo-fi guitars in a constant battle with a cacophony of cymbal and snare drum.

On the other hand, the moods calms considerably with “Stay Useless” and “Cut you,” which harness their previous fast paced, velvety pop akin to bands like Tokyo Police Club.

Regardless of the different styles in the album, each song warrants a head shake and a head bob.

But a few outstanding selections make you want to punch a hole in the wall out of sheer exhilaration.

Needless to say, this isn’t the relaxing comfort album that we all enjoy but even with its uneven pacing and panicky feeling it is a good listen.

Even if you don’t care for the stressful sound you have to respect the energy they put into this album and into their shows.

The band performed in the Valley Feb. 28 at the Crescent Ballroom and I’m still kicking myself for not going to the show.