Art Bears, Hopes and Fears (side A)

Talented artists often try to show off their proficiency, and records that seem rough or primitive often are a result of naïveté.  As much as the Art Bears' talent is obvious on Hopes and Fears, they also made choices to conceal their talent, and other decisions that seem unflattering on the surface.  While even commercial records in 1978 did not sound as cartoon-like and huge as today's hits, Hopes and Fears often sounds particularly tiny and unimposing.  At the rare moments when rock-like textures do appear, it becomes obvious that the the restraint of most sounds was achieved very purposefully.  The songs themselves are often awkwardly constructed, with few hooks of any kind to draw in the listeners attention.  Vocal melodies are often arch and complicated, and sometimes subtle textural sections omit even these.  In his book File Under Popular, Chris Cutler emphasizes how political content should be coupled with a related form, rather than placed in a more palatable context, and the rich lyrics on Hopes and Fears follow his preferred approach.  The beautiful front and back cover are more approachable than most of the album's contents, but the inside of the gatefold, which is simple, raw, and handwritten, contrasts with these images.