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Ramona Falls
Intuit
By Chris Drabick
Ramona Falls is the nom de rock of Brent Knopf, who’s best known for being one-third of Portland’s outstanding Menomena. Fans of Knopf’s primary band are well accustomed to that band’s intriguing cut-and-paste style of songwriting and recording, an approach that allows Menomena to take a sort of internally self-referential stance. Ramona Falls is a far more organic project, and while there are moments that identify the influence of Knopf’s main project, the majority of this piece is a fairly considerable departure from what this dude does best.
Mostly, Intuit’s best moments are the most Menomena-like; the percussive strut of “I Say Fever” wouldn’t have sounded out of place on the superlative Friend and Foe, and boasts the record’s best beat. Too much of the rest of Intuit gets bogged down in stoner-style self-seriousness, and songs like the dull “Salt Sack” and folksy “The Darkest Day” take too long to get anywhere and too often lack in both melody and accessibility. It’s fair to say that Ramona often falls as Knopf reaches beyond his grasp, especially with expansive arrangements like “Going Once, Going Twice.” Trying for something grand and failing is commendable, but it doesn’t often result in a listenable piece of music; it’s just too difficult to give Intuit the time and patience to get into it.
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