SotD: "Hyperballad " - Dirty Projectors (2008)

In between 2007's concept-cover album Rise Above and 2009's unbelievably complete Bitte Orca, Brooklyn's most forward thinking band Dirty Projectors made many adjustments. They traded a female vocalist, added a permanent drummer and bassist, and signed to Domino. They also recorded a few key band-in-trasistion tracks in 2008, which showcase band leader and singer Dave Longstreth's push to be less art and more pop. Two of those songs were collaborations with indie icon and Talking Heads leader David Byrne, and the other a cover of Bjork's "Hyperballad."

Released on Stereogum's 10th anniversary tribute to Bjork's seminal Post, it is the first DP song to feature Angel Deradoorian in place of Susanna Waiche. Angel's tight, rising harmony with bandmate Amber Coffman fill out the chorus, giving the listener a much needed counterweight to Longstreth's nasally, unsteady lead. That balance, along with some explosive but minimal drumming, became the centerpiece for Bitte Orca. And really, that's why this song is so interesting. Its growing pains for a band already way ahead of the pack, who (partly due to the exposure from this song) would share the stage with Bjork at a small record store a year later (pictured above). A year later there is also a cover of "Stillness is the Move" by Beyonce's sister, and NYMag naming "Stillness" the #1 song that defined the Brooklyn sound. Here's to growing pains.

I go through all this
Before you wake up
So I can feel happier
To be safe up here with you