SOUNDTRACK: THE DECEMBERISTS-The Hazards of Love (2009).
I first played this disc a few times without really listening to it, just to get a feel for it. And I was surprised by how heavy it sounded. The harshest moments of the disc really stood out to me, and I was quite surprised, as I think of the Decemberists as more folky than this.
But when I finally sat down and listened, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the disc overall. I have yet to understand the complete storyline (the lyrics are printed in a near impossible to read size and color, so I’ve had to rely on what I could pick out.)
The disc is a concept album. It tells the story of Margaret who falls for a shape shifting creature of the forest and, I think, their offspring as well. There’s a jealous forest queen involved, and, of course, the Rake–although I’m not exactly sure how he fits in–but more on him in a moment.
In addition to some “celebrity” guest vocalists (Robyn Hitchcock and Jim James of My Morning Jacket sing backing vocals), for the first time on a Decemberists disc, Colin Meloy doesn’t sing all of the lead vocals. The two women characters’ parts are sung by two singers I don’t know: Becky Stark (of the band Lavender Diamond) and Shara Worden (of My Brightest Diamond). And when the queen (Shara Worden) sings, she’s pretty angry. She creates one of the harshest sounds I can think of by the Decemberists.
Interestingly, that song, “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid” also contains one of the most beautiful passages that the Decemberists have done. “The Wanting Comes in Waves” part of the song has an uplifting chorus, a wonderful melody and a beautiful sing-along. Meanwhile, the “Repaid” part has some harsh, angular guitars and when the Queen repeats “repaid!” for the third time, the hair will stand up on your arms. (Of course, the song then repeats the beautiful part once again…phew…and it is reprised at the end of the disc, because how could you NOT include that passage again?).
This record also features the catchiest song about infanticide that I know of. “The Rake’s Song” rocks, and yet as you’re singing along to the simple but catchy chorus of “Alright, Alright, Alright,” you realize that the Rake has just killed all of his three children so that he can have a life as a free bachelor again. (Revenge does come at the end).
And that revenge comes in one of the 4 versions of the title song. What starts as a simple folky ditty (in Part 1) “singing, oh ho, the hazards of love,” morphs (in Part 2) into a rocking track, then (in Part 3) a track with a children’s choir (my least favorite track on the disc–it works with the story, but I don’t care for the kids voices, really) and (finally) a haunting epilogue.
This is The Decemberists’ most striking album to date. It is a bold attempt to alienate just about everyone, and yet I believe they have pulled off something just shy of a masterpiece. The harshness of some of the songs still makes me a little uneasy (at least when listening with the kiddies), but the rewards are ample, and they really do fit perfectly with the plot.
I never expected the Decemberists to venture into prog rock territory but since they embraced it fully, they really pulled it off. I do still need to get in and read the lyrics though, just to get all the details straight. (They are legibly printed here).
[READ: June 1, 2009] Cat’s Cradle
This is the first “well-known” Vonnegut book I’ve read (not counting Slaughterhouse Five, which I’m going to re-read soon for the first time in fifteen or so years). I’d heard of this book but never knew what it was about. And, boy, trying to summarize is pretty tough.
Why?
Because Vonnegut invents an entire new religion and a fictional island on which to practice it. And his characterization of the whole thing is so complete, that it is utterly believable. And that’s only half the book.
So, let’s try this: John, the narrator decides to write a personal biography of Felix Hoenikker, the Father of the atomic bomb. Okay, so we know we are on somewhat fictional ground, and yet it is sort of based in reality. Fine. (more…)
SOUNDTRACK: BELLE AND SEBASTIAN-BBC Sessions & Live in Belfast 2001 (2008).
Virtually every review of the BBC Sessions says the same thing: these tracks barely differ from the original recordings. And, for better or worse, that is very true. In fact, even the trumpets and other instruments sound so perfect, you tend to forget it’s a live recording. Clearly this sends a positive message about their live playing. But if that’s the case, why would you buy this?
SOUNDTRACK: PEARL JAM-Ten (1991).
For me, Nirvana was the band that brought the 1990’s into alternative-rock-land. But, it was Pearl Jam that brought hard rocking music back to the masses. Like everyone I know, I loved Ten. But I gradually lost excitement about Pearl Jam over their next couple of records.
I Just Read About That... 