Yellow and Green

When a band starts to evolve in such a way that they seem to no longer resemble their past output, there is always a risk of experiencing a disconnect as a listener. On the flip side, some artists have to grow in such a way to feel creative and relevant. I try to understand both viewpoints. As a listener, the best example I can think of of feeling left behind by a band I once championed would be Metallica. To this day, I cannot hear a song from the infamous Black album and not feel that I was never the intended audience. In short, fame was sought and achieved and in return, high school cheerleaders nationwide had "Enter Sandman" to craft a routine around. With "Yellow & Green", some of the same complaints were uttered. Even upon first listen, I was feeling confused and disappointed that yet another band was leaving behind a slew of top shelf material for possible attention elsewhere. After what feels like a thousand listens since then, I can assure you that I was completely wrong.There is no doubt that Baroness has softened the surface level approach on this double album. For the most part, gone are the barrage of stampeding riffs and mammoth driving percussive rhythms. While the opening track "Take My Bones Away" starts things off in expected fashion, songs like "Little Things" opt for more air and my favorite track "Cocanium" gets more psychedelic and haunting. Move on to "Back Where I Belong" and you begin to see that where Baroness has stripped some of the heavier tinges, there is expert craftsmanship to these songs. As there is an ebb and flow from song to song where things morph between light, dark, heavy, moody and so on, there is no denying that time and effort went into making these songs meaningful on multiple levels.I will admit that there is a small and dwindling part of myself that wonders if a time will come where Baroness is no longer recognizable. The more you experience these two discs, the more you realize that the evolution from "Blue Record" makes perfect sense. Still, the difference is also noticeable. For now, you can be certain that if you love Baroness' earlier output, "Yellow & Green" will occupy significant playing time in your stereo. It really is an accomplishment of rarefied air.

Whether you've been weened on radio-rock, consider yourself an elite metal-head or gravitate towards prog-rock, Baroness would like a moment of your time. The Georgian outfit blurs the line between stoner sludge and melodic hard-rock on their third album, a double affair dubbed simply "Yellow & Green." Like most thirds in a band's career, "Yellow & Green" is an important step in the band's career, expanding upon their original sound and blowing expectations away. This is an all or nothing sort of album, and thankfully for the members of Baroness (who have since undergone a drastic line-up change), the effort has paid off.Though it may seem dense and uninviting to a first time listener, "Yellow & Green's" 18 tracks are anything but. Tracks like "Take My Bones Away" and "Psalms Alive" are infectious and hard hitting, occupying that rarely explored space where heavy metal can be heavy and yet still be fun and inviting. Deeper cuts (and personal favorites) "Twinkler" and "Cocanium" show the band digging deeper, emerging with gorgeous melodies and sprawling sounds that recall the best of classic rock just as much as modern metal. While heavy music has a tendency to be one-dimensional at times, Baroness never fall into such a trap. Never throughout the album's hour and a quarter run-time does the album lag, as each song flows perfectly from one to the next, making for a seamless and satisfying experience.While long-time fans are bound to be disappointed by the perceived lack of heaviness on "Yellow & Green," the average listener will gravitate to the wide open space it offers where good music is simply good music. Even if you are just hearing the name Baroness for the first time, you owe it to yourself to give this one a shot. Who knows what the future brings for these guys, but if this album is any indication, they have a very bright future ahead of them. If somebody tells you that rock is dead and there's nothing new under the sun, direct them to this piece of music.

I finally bought this because I found it for a very low price. I knew it wasn't going to top Blue Record, which is my favorite Baroness album, but it seemed worth the risk. Best decision I've made in a while, with music. The reviewers before me hated this change of direction, and I get it, but wow. The lyrics are really good, and when you listen from end to end instead of by Amazon's 30 second sample chunks, a definite flow and vibe is created. I went with four stars, but this might actually be a 4.3 or so.I like it so much I'm thinking of rearranging the instrumentals with my cd burner to try to make it even better. The ending has two instrumentals out of the last three songs, the effect of which is not ideal for me. I'm gonna try the instrumentals as track 4, 8, 12, and 16.

A friend of mine recommended Baroness to me, and they’re pretty good. They remind me of a heavier version of Weezer with better lyrics. The record starts strong and rocks, and halfway through gives way to a much more melodic sound. If you’re looking for a new band to listen to, give them a chance.

An inspiring follow-up to the Red Album and Blue Record, Yellow and Green shows a softer side of Baroness that is very refreshing. Even though several songs border on the sound of "mainstream" alternative rock/metal, the album has a sound of it's own that is easily distinguished from other artists. Peaks and valleys throughout the album make for a very interesting listening experience. Audio aside, the artwork is absolutely stunning. I have more than once considered framing up Baroness record sleeves and hanging them on my walls because they are so intricate and visually appealing.