Just today, after getting released from work a full two hours early and finding some time on my hands, I got ahold of the newest alt-J album This Is All Yours, released last Monday (the 22nd). I had kept up to date with their three very different singles (“Hunger of the Pine,” “Left Hand Free,” and most recently “Every Other Freckle”) and I was interested to see (or hear rather) what the full album would sound like. Well, I just gave it its first listen-through and, if you don’t mind, let me describe my first impression:

First off, the album starts great with another fantastic Intro. This leads into two songs that seem (in both vibe and title) paired: the first being a nice chill lead into the heavier second. The first half of the album then closes out with a couple of the released singles. Now, I like the rock-and-roll “Left Hand Free” despite its potentially-repetitive nature, but after numerous listens, I just can’t get into “Every Other Freckle.” I mean the music is kind of cool and it may eventually grow on me, but for now I find it incredibly sporadic and too difficult to understand to justify it. I don’t know, maybe I just don’t get it.

But anyway, we now get an incredibly pleasant to listen to interlude entitled “Garden of England” (which I find incredibly appropriate; it really makes you feel like you’re in a royal English garden). This kicks off a great rest of an album (in my initial opinion). Starts a little slow, “Choice Kingdom” is just a little too low key for my tastes, but after “Hunger of the Pine” it’s simply great. The songs are incredibly varied in tone, content, and tempo but throughout there is the incredible groove that we came to love in An Awesome Wave.

Overall, I approve of the new album. I can’t say that I am in love with every song on it, but being that I am this excited about it after only one listen, I imagine it’ll only get better. One thing I thought this album does a really good job of showcasing, aside from their vast musical styles, is the mesmerizing vocal harmonies of Newman and Unger-Hamilton. This, combined with their driving melodies and rich instrumentals, makes this album perfect to sit back, relax and vibe out to. If you listen to it and don’t like it, try it alone, maybe driving or somewhere else you can relax. I imagine if you can find the situation this album fits, you’ll love it.