Rise Above

The Wire - "[T]he short, sharp shock of Black Flag is transformed into lush, jangling pop songs with strings, piccolos and rich vocal harmonies..." Uncut - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[With Longstretch's] adventurous, undulating falsetto backed by honey-sweet female harmonies..." Spin - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]railblazing....Dense with ambition, all of it realized, RISE ABOVE alchemizes angst and self-hatred into triumph and inspiration." Q - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he music -- Afro-pop knock-offs with orchestrated interludes, heavy drums and swooping vocals -- was imagined from scratch..." Spin (p.118) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]railblazing....Dense with ambition, all of it realized, RISE ABOVE alchemizes angst and self-hatred into triumph and inspiration." Uncut (p.98) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[With Longstretch's] adventurous, undulating falsetto backed by honey-sweet female harmonies..." The Wire (p.71) - "[T]he short, sharp shock of Black Flag is transformed into lush, jangling pop songs with strings, piccolos and rich vocal harmonies..." Q (Magazine) (p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he music -- Afro-pop knock-offs with orchestrated interludes, heavy drums and swooping vocals -- was imagined from scratch..."

'Rise Above' is Dave Longstreth aka Dirty Projectors' second album. The album is an attempt to recreate legendary hardcore punk band Black Flag's album 'Damaged' from memory. The result is entirely unique with lush and melodic strings arrangements that represent the lyrics in a fresher and broader way than the original. An exciting and curious album for those adventurous listeners. It also features members of cult U.S band Grizzly Bear.|