Album Review: Know Better Learn Faster – Thao with the Get Down

Last May I reviewed a concert of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down.  They played with Sister Suvi and Samantha Crain. During the show, Thao invited members of the other bands into their set and played several songs along with them, making for an astonishingly wild and active stage.  What an amazing performance! With as many as 9 people crammed onto the tiny stage within the Beachland Tavern, I found myself torn between taking photos and dancing.  Seeing Thao live and with the caliber of energy that they presented to that crowd seems to have carried over into their new album Know Better Learn Faster – specifically with “Cool Yourself”  and my favorite on the album “When We Swarm”, a dashingly slick song that begs you to dance like Ben Afleck in Chasing Amy (You know, in the bar when he’s rubbing his chest and swaying awkwardly). Anyway . . . I also seem to be hearing slight influences from Sister Suvi throughout the album. In Thao’s previous albums they have been, by and large, almost comedic and definitely upbeat with their musical juxtaposition.  Know Better Learn Faster does bring some more serious themes to the table. These new elements and change to their already stellar style only solidifies the album’s place within Thao Nguyen’s discography and it comes highly recommended.

Folk Rock Lovers – Eat your heart out.

Don’t miss their upcoming show at the Magic Stick this coming Halloween night!