w h o k i l l is a huge step forward for Merrill Garbus (AKA tUnE-yArDs), and is out the gate one of the best records I have heard so far in all of 2011. While her debut release BiRd-BrAiNs turned mine and a lot of people’s heads back in 2009, the primitiveness of the recording and immediacy of the song-writing still stood in the way of her completely taking over.
But now, with a little bit of time and effort (and, probably, money for better recording equipment) Merrill returns with an un-fucking-believable record. And you can currently stream it in its entirety on NPR Music’s site. The cool parts are still there – the loud tribal drums, the wailing, the personal lyrical content – but she has just been able to so greatly craft this into the beauty that is w h o k i l l. Check it out if you haven’t already. You won’t regret it.
