Braids - Hillside Sunday 2011

The Braids set this year was much like that of last year except much higher expectations. Native Speaker is one of my favourite albums of the year but the way they take the sounds and warp them into songs seems like it should be interesting but isn't. Mind you this was a workshop with Lost in the Trees, obvious professionals who were able to play along as if they wrote the music, but really didn't add anything to the set besides a fuller sound with their tuba, cello, violin and xylophone. Even the double drumset which is one of my fave live elements didn't really accentuate much for this type of music. Especially on the ethereal-even-for-Braids title track Native Speaker. With such love for the album it's hard for the live experience to live up, and despite a second chance it seems Braids don't really come close so I'll keep my headphones in.