it reminds me that it's not so bad, not so bad

Wow, where did the time go? I've been super busy lately, but I have a hand-picked batch of album reviews for you. Thanks for the love, readers old and new. Got a suggestion? Send it forward. Like what you see? Tell a friend/post to your favored social media network! Now I must retire to my bed chamber and seek much needed rest.


Barry White "All-Time Greatest Hits"

Barry White sings music about three things and three things only: love, lack of love, and the act of love. He is especially well known for the last one, and there's a reason for it: he's got a sexy voice. Everybody knows that low, sultry voice of Barry White and upon hearing him, most people laugh or get bashful. The singing is quite soulful though and it deserves a listen, even if you're just hanging out by yourself (and no, not like that). The long song titles are a little unusual and/or funny, including, "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Baby", "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me", and "Your Sweetness is My Weakness." One unexpected addition is a cover of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are." While the sentiments are conveyed well (even over the disco backing band), the advanced harmonies and colorful vocabulary are out of place in Barry White's lexicon, which basically sticks to uncomplicated lyrics, and hey, it works for him. The spoken word intro is probably also a Barry White trademark and is just so smooth when coupled with his on-pointe delivery. I don't imagine many people go to see Barry White live. It's more something you experience at home, know what I mean?

Justin Timberlake "Justified"

As my first Justin Timberlake experience (I always harbored resentment towards him for stealing my first name's Google hits much in the way I now feel about Mr. Bieber), I had, mostly, low expectations about the quality of the pop music. Upon listening I can report that I am, mostly, pleasantly surprised. Much closer to the R&B and hip-hop idioms, the music is compelling to most mainstream ears, and I enjoyed about 50% of the tracks. One point that I am overwhelmingly compelled to say is that the influence of Michael Jackson is, well, overwhelming. I am confident that had Michael Jackson's music not existed, this album, the music of and like Justin Timberlake, and well, most pop music, would also not exist, or at least not even be close to what it is. The beats, the grooves, the loops, the vocal style in a solo setting, the vocal style in a chorused setting, the layering of vocal harmonies by the same vocalist...they're all Michael's moves, just on updated drum machines and digital production equipment. This album is as much an implicit homage to Michael Jackson as it is a collection of original pop music for the audience of the new millennium. (As a side note, Janet Jackson appears on one track.) Some of the ballads are a little too sappy and teenage-girly and a few harder jams are too sexually explicit for me to really enjoy listening to (although this is the year 2002; things are much worse nowadays). The true stand out is "Cry Me a River," in which the multiple vocal percussion tracks layered over a basic electronic beat create a unique palette for vocal harmonies to float over top. The track would also not be a success without the string parts, which provide resonance and warmth to fill out the otherwise percussive track. Though, the silence (literal or virtual) between bass hits and vocal lines is one of the compelling characteristics that makes the simplistic beat feel even better. Recommended for R&B, hip-hop and pop fans.

Various Artists "MTV TRL Christmas"

Pretty awful. But so are most of the artists found on this 2001 compilation. Remember Smash Mouth? Ugh. Sugar Ray performs a note-for-note reproduction of the Beach Boys' hit "Little Saint Nick." Ok, so what? TLC singing "Sleigh Ride" is probably funny and not that bad. Weezer fans may appreciate their "The Christmas Song" (not the same "chestnuts" one). I knew this was bad before I put it on though. Sometimes you just gotta trust your instincts.

Gorillaz "D-Sides"

Double disc set featuring tracks otherwise known as B-sides and remixes. The B-sides are pretty good! I love how some B-sides albums just feel like completely legitimate albums in their own right (Pisces Iscariot being my favorite). Selections fall into various categories: hip-hop, house, reggae, rock, pop and places in between. I like how the mood, tempo, and texture of the tracks is also well varied. Is it just me or does "People" use some of the same beats and loops as their hit "Dare"? Maybe that's why it was never released--it was too similar. I can understand that. The remixes are pretty much ok. I don't have much to say in depth about them. I usually have lukewarm feelings about remixes anyway. Some are good, some are kind of pointless and annoying. Anyway, this set is worth checking out just for the first disc regardless.

The Wallflowers "Bringing Down the Horse"

The Wallflowers are a good down-to-earth rock band. Some country influences, for sure, a la Tom Petty and the like. Even though Bob Dylan's son Jakob fronts this band, there isn't too much resemblance to Bob Dylan's music and his voice is much closer to, say, Darius Rucker. However, the thread of continuity is talented, heartfelt, and well-performed songwriting. The Wallflowers have a modern sound though; the instrument tones and the production of the album embody a polished overall sound. This is another band that has the possibility of pleasing people of multiple generations and musical tastes. My mom definitely listens to the Wallflowers and I can get into it too. Recommended for fans of singer/songwriter, rock, alt country, and easy listening.

The White Stripes "Icky Thump"

Everybody's favorite (maybe) minimalist weirdo duo The White Stripes put out Icky Thump in 2007. I think Jack White did himself a favor this time and added another voice to the guitar-and-drums mix many times on this album, either by adding a rhythm guitar loop or synthesizer or what have you. The second track, "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)" sounds like a BAND: two guitars and organ? I don't know what came over him, maybe it was all that playing in other projects, but probably most listeners will welcome a little branching out, polyphonically. Don't worry though, traditionalists, there is still plenty of thickly distorted guitar tone, poorly miked drums, and plenty of rough edges to go around. Meg White continues to elide and eliminate beats willy-nilly, puzzling some and ruining the sense of rhythm of many others. Still there are plenty of other attractions in store, like folk harps, bagpipes, and other Celtic-inspired sounds to shake things up. Among the White Stripes' more interesting efforts I'd say. However, I also listened to the live album Under Great White Northern Lights, drawing heavily on material from Icky Thump, and good god. At times it is almost 100% unintelligible. Not just the lyrics. Of course the lyrics are either mumbled or screamed (not to mention Jack sounds like he stayed up all night drinking and yelling, which he might have, I guess) but the guitar work is so sloppy that it makes you wonder how anyone at these concerts enjoyed themselves. While that one is definitely not recommended, Icky Thump is.

Gorillaz "Plastic Beach"

This 2010 Gorillaz release is definitely one to file under "Hip Hop" as opposed to their other various genres and styles usually at play in their music. Gorillaz are basically the beat producers for a host of rappers and other guests (only 4 out of 16 tracks do not feature any guest talent) navigating the whole swath of hip hop culture from De La Soul to Snoop Dogg. However there are some tracks like "Glitter Freeze" that are more electro/electro pop, or "On Melancholy Hill," which is a straight up pop tune to break up the single genre vibe. Still, if you're more of an electro than hip hop fan like myself, this album will probably have less playtime in your car stereo. Since I'm not a rap aficionado, I can't comment too much on the execution here, but overall I liked or tolerated everything. If you're a Gorillaz or hip hop fan, give this one a try.

Justin Timberlake "FutureSex/LoveSounds"

More Justin Timberlake? Well I thought I was on to something with my earlier listen to Justified and that I was initially wrong about Justin Timberlake for assuming that he just made unoriginal pop music. Unfortunately, I was surprised again. This is exactly the kind of absurdly sexually explicit, banal beyond reason, unoriginal stuff I was afraid I would find. There ARE exceptions, however, and it seems the album gets more musically interesting and gratifying as it goes on. The last three tracks were tolerable, and the last, "(Another Song) All Over Again" has the most musical value, and therefore really sticks out in the context its in. It feels more like a weird bonus track than a good conclusion to a well-rounded album. I just also want to point out that clearly the worst, most banal and annoying track among them is also the smash single, "SexyBack." Oh, what is becoming of popular music? And this was 5 years ago already! I should point out that apparently the album as a concept attempts to comment on sex, love, and their interplay in our current society, and perhaps I am not really seeing the bigger picture and am getting too hung up on specifics. Apparently 14 million people seem to think so.

Dido "No Angel"

There's not much to complain about. Maybe it's a little New Agey at times? Dido has a deep and rich voice and lets it flow over beats, acoustic guitars, and washes of strings. Some songs are better than others but this is easy to listen to pop. There's definitely a 90's female pop singer vibe, strongly drawing upon Alanis Morisette. The sound lacks angst though, unlike Alanis; it's much more calm, comfortable, spinning around slowly in the rain sort of vibe. Some of the 80's beats remind me of Depeche Mode and those kind of brooding guys as well. Seems fine for most people.

Does It Offend You, Yeah? "You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into"

That much was true; however, I am pleased with the results. This is a wild and wacky electro band from England that sounds like they like playing loud and being crazy. The opening track, "Battle Royale" is an instrumental electronic composition that immediately makes evident the influence of several dance-oriented genres: drum 'n bass, house, electro-pop, glitch, and a dash of something out there, like Deerhoof. The next track, "With a Heavy Heart (I Regret to Inform You)" is like LCD Soundsystem meets hardcore. Sweet! Then there are also tracks that you'll swear sound like a Killers cover band, namely track 4, "Dawn of the Dead." So that's the electro-pop part, and the early tracks are more the house, glitch, dance and all around electronic beeps and beats thing. But there's definitely an overarching punk rock vibe and aesthetic at work here as well, which contributes to fast tempos, overdriven guitars and other nasty tones, and the often roughly executed vocals. The B-52's get mohawks. Also some similarity to Bloc Party (I think they toured with them at some point?). Recommended for dance, electro-pop, and indie rock fans.

watching the tides

A couple of new reviews for you. Hope you're hungry.


Also want to remind everyone that next Saturday (that's April 16) is Record Store Day 2011. What is RSD you ask? Artists release special or limited editions of albums or singles on this day and are distributed only to independent record stores (no Amazon, no iTunes, no big-box stores, etc.) as a means of promoting indie record stores and just the purchase of music at all. Many releases are also only on vinyl (as a means of promoting this medium) and it may in fact lure me in this year. Visit the website to find out where your local record stores are and get to it!

Various Artists "Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-81"

Another Afro-rock, cross-genre 70's compilation (in two discs). The same comments from my review Bokoor Beats basically apply, but there are a few differences. This set is more focused on bands with a more African sound rather than a rock sound, but many influences are readily apparent of course. This difference is most notable in the percussion: several-member percussion sections of shakers, bells and hand drums (not at all dissimilar from salsa bands) replace drum kits, but there are some selections with the latter. It also felt like the overall feel of the compilation was upbeat, due to the syncopated percussion, high pitched clean guitar, moderately fast tempos, and major keys. Bokoor Beats tended to focus on what might have been close to 2am The Doors jam sessions--brooding, in minor keys, and looping endlessly. Essentially, highlife plays a bigger role in these recordings, although two or three bands make appearances on both collections. Anyone interested in African, Latin, or cross-genre rock music would find this compilation worth a listen.

Deerhunter "Halcyon Digest"

Unlike other Deerhunter experiences I have had, Halcyon Digest was a CD that I enjoyed listened to. Which is saying something, seeing as I did not want to (and did not) finish Cryptograms. Elements of lo-fi, psychedelia, 60s pop/rock, and surf rock are found in the sound, mixed with something modern to create this "indie" rock. Some of the more lengthy or under-orchestrated tracks may put you to sleep (not necessarily a bad thing of course) but they are distributed between drum-driven tracks to liven things up. Most of the chords are simple; most of the vocal lines are simple too I guess. I'm guessing Rivers Cuomo listens to Deerhunter. Kind of like Weezer with longer songs and no fuzz pedals. In any case, this one is probably worth a listen, and maybe this means they're going in a more listening-friendly direction (album is from 2010).

Femi Kuti "Shoki Shoki"

Funky, sexy Afrobeat for a modern age. The very full sound contains funk drums, two guitars (often one staccato and one wah-wah), bass guitar, synth/organ, Femi Kuti's powerful vocals and a cool handful of backing vocal harmonies. Solos on trumpet, saxophone, trombone and others are showcased. Don't forget the extra rhythms in the percussion, lots of different beats to choose from. Femi Kuti is the son of Fela Kuti, recognized as the founder of the Afrobeat sound and related political movement, so it's only proper that Femi is following the traditions and continually updating them to modern tastes and trends. The 70's sound is barely discernible anymore (aside from I guess the wah-wah pedal and the occasional electric clavichord) and the complex rhythms that are usually present in several percussion instruments are all incorporated into the drum set much of the time. You could definitely imagine people dancing in a club to this music in the year 2011 not 1971. So perhaps some of you who find the original Afrobeat/rock too dated in sound/style may find something more palatable among this generation of Afro-sounds.

Cheap Trick "The Greatest Hits"

Sorry, you can't put 13 tracks on a CD and say they are Cheap Trick's greatest hits. At most they have like four. Actually, 4 of the 13 tracks are covers, including a really terrible rendition of "Magical Mystery Tour." Who covers that? "Don't Be Cruel," yeah ok, you can't really mess that up. How can that be a hit? If you have "I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender," you pretty much have all that Cheap Trick contributed. These guys are so close to being a one hit wonder that they wanted to put out a Greatest Hits album to make themselves and their label feel better. Now THAT'S a cheap trick. (audience moans)

Pink Martini "Hey Eugene!"

If you don't know who Pink Martini is, they are a veritable band of gypsies, a multi-talented, multi-instrumental, multi-lingual, multi-genre ensemble whose sound could be welcomed by both twentysomethings and their parents (not an easy feat). Styles fluctuate between the crooner/lounge vibe and many Latin up-beat genres; however, they have also been known to portray styles from Africa, Russia, Eastern Europe, Arabia and Japan. And they sing in the appropriate language. So what exactly IS this band? It's hard to say, but they definitely carry the 1940's crooner "glamorous" vibe into their arrangements and the production of their recordings. Only the title track does not fit into these classifications; it is a fairly straight-ahead rock/funk number and frankly very dull. Definitely not a rock band, and not simply a world music collective either, but somewhere in between. They play theaters not stages and sell tickets for $45 not $20, but I imagine their show is worth it. These are musicians' musicians and I guess you get what you pay for. Anyone interested in jazz and world music (with American production) should take a listen.

Michael Bublé "Michael Bublé"

The other half of every teenage girl's John Mayer musical Brokeback fantasy, Michael Bublé makes his debut with a bunch of good tunes. I'm sure it's been said a million times, but he's the young Sinatra for the 00's. First of all he's got a great arranger and a great band behind him. Second, he's done his homework. Everything in his interpretation is legit, musical, and well-founded, based on crooners that have come before him and also the influence of modern sounds. You can't really take away the "old" sound of the Sinatra recordings and likewise you can't really take away the "modern" from Michael Bublé (at least not yet). Third, the dude's got a great voice. C'mon. For this reason, he joins my iTunes (I have two other albums as well) sans guilt. "For Once in My Life" shows up here again (also on the Sinatra album I reviewed earlier). I never knew it was such a swingable, crooner-type-singable song. I like the original, but you know, it works. Also love the rendition of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." It's not TOO far from the original version, that's the fun part.

Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons "Greatest Hits, Volume 1"

New Jersey native Frankie Valli and his unusual falsetto are well known all over thanks to a few hits found on this collection. "Big Girls Don't Cry" (cry yai yai) is probably the biggest hit and as was the case in the 60's, many of the others are simply recycled songs already written and recorded by other artists. The other 4 Seasons don't have nearly as big a role as Frankie and not as much as other non-lead members of male vocal groups of the time (like the Drifters?). They're more like backing singers, not part of a rich four-voice harmony. So as long as you like the Frankie Valli show, you'll be fine. There's a chance you may not and there's a chance you may think it is impossible that the sound you are hearing is coming from a man, but no, it's true. The most alarming is also my favorite among the collection, the first track, 1962's "Sherry." He sings a G in chest voice, then his voice changes on the way up to a C then up again to an E before descending and finishing the word "Sherry." Fascinating just from a scientific point of view. Also the cover of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" I did not see coming (substitute Elmo for Dylan). Hard to imagine this is the same group that would later produce "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)", but yes, that is the same 4 Seasons. I assume that's for Volume 2. I'll let that one go.

Otis Redding "The Very Best of Otis Redding"

I had no knowledge of Otis Redding's story, including his life and his music, other than that famous song, prior to this CD. Otis Redding is what you would call a soul singer. The arrangements are one thing, the grooves, the beat, the horn section. It's not really about the songs. Soul music (as I've come to understand thus far) is characterized by interpretive vocalization as a means of heartfelt expression. If there is one word to describe the music it would be sincerity. Otis Redding wears his heart on his sleeve and his voice becomes the sole vehicle of conveying those emotions. This is done via a song, but it's not really the song itself that says something, it's the way in which it's done. He could have been singing in Japanese and you still would have understood what he was feeling through his voice. The liner notes were also very informative. As you may know about me, I prefer CDs and physical recordings to downloading music in file format; one reason is because it feels like you bought something if you have something in your hand and the other is for liner notes/album art. Redding's smash hit "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was a departure from his earlier music (evidently, after listening to the other music collected here), but not entirely. The song is simpler, mostly containing full measures of sustained chords, less funky riffs and rhythmic content. And also he doesn't ever get really big, shout or let his voice crack like is done in other tracks for dramatic effect. But perhaps this is exactly the vibe he was going for. Watching the tides roll away. Redding died at age 27 (what?!) in a plane crash just 3 days after recording the #1 single, but as always, the music lives on. The more I come to understand soul music, it begs the question: why isn't all music soul music? Who wouldn't want to be emotional, dynamic, interpretive and sincere? Yes, I want to be callous, dull, unoriginal and fake; sign me up. And maybe some of these actually ring bells in today's world of pop music. Look for the soul. Seek it out. Decide for yourself whether you'll accept anything less.

i don't believe this, i'm in love again!

It took me all the way until Friday but I've got another batch of album reviews for you, my dear public. Please enjoy. Please comment!! If you like what you see, become a follower. Or if that doesn't suit you electronically, perhaps you might choose to post a link to the blog on Facebook and share the love. Be sure to tune in next time with reviews on Squirrel Nut Zippers, Phil Collins, Femi Kuti, Pink Martini and more. And maybe something extra special. Just for you. Cause I like you.

The Decemberists "The King is Dead"

The Decemberists' latest release, if you haven't heard, goes way down a country road, but luckily, the integrity of their songs remains. I mean, they are nice enough songs, mostly very simple in structure, and Colin's voice is well suited to them. All the musicians are pretty stellar; I think most people would agree. That said, I think the majority of the songs lack a certain something, a shine to them, something that sets them apart from any old song. And maybe they are intended to be "any old songs," but I'm not too sure about that. The only memorable song (after one listen) was "Down By the Water," but don't get me wrong, anything the Decemberists touch is gonna be good. Recommended for indie and country rock fans.

No Doubt "Tragic Kingdom"

The debut album of No Doubt was interesting to listen to for the first time following my listen to Return of Saturn last week. Right from the first seconds, the reggae/ska vibe is clearly established. Other parts sound closer to straight ahead punk, grunge, and high-energy alternative rock outfits of the time. There is also some Latin/Spanish influence on "You Can Do It" that was a little surprising. All in all, I got bored with many of these songs in the middle of the album, whether they were too basic, repetitive, annoying or just didn't go anywhere. Tracks 4, 5 and 6 are pretty blah but Track 7 "The Climb" is new and interesting. Buried 10 tracks deep is the smash hit "Don't Speak." I didn't even realize it was their song until the first C minor chords are heard. Overall, a good mix of stuff but ultimately, their sound is just not figured out yet. At some points there are so many dubs going on you are just overwhelmed with sound information and it doesn't seem like that's their intention. They just recorded a lot of stuff and then didn't cut very much out. The sound gets a lot tighter and the harmonies more advanced five years later on Return of Saturn. Now I just need to hear the album in between! Still, it's clear why No Doubt got noticed by this debut album.

Yeasayer "All Hour Cymbals"

There is no classifiable sound from Yeasayer it seems, and that certainly holds true with this album. My eyes widened at the Mars Volta-like vibes I was getting from the first track, "Sunrise." Then the second track channels late 60's early 70's psych/folk energies. The third track is probably closest to 90's alternative in sound, and the fourth track is 60's. Pretty amazing that it's still fairly coherent as an entity. The same notions from my earlier Yeasayer review apply: a plethora of instruments, sound sources, vocal layers, effects...a somewhat intense sensory experience. I guess this is like Animal Collective in some ways (which I did not mention earlier, but it dawns on me now) so if you are looking for something new and unusual, go for Yeasayer.

The Drifters "The Very Best of the Drifters"

Classic R&B sound. Most of these are good tunes and good arrangements. Reading the liner notes was very informative and an insight into the bizarre workings of pop groups in those days. The original Drifters were a completely different group, which wasn't doing very well, and one day they played a show with The Crowns. Consequently the guy who owned the name "The Drifters" made the Crowns the Drifters and fired everybody else. What? It's also interesting to see who was writing the songs of the day. A lot of Pomus/Shuman and Goffin/King as well as Broadway stuff. A bittersweet foray into the smiling world of 50's pop.

Frank Sinatra "Duets II"

One of the most recognizable voices of recorded music teams up with various people of varyingly attractive voices, for better or worse. Most of the vocal talent is tolerable, but the band is unbelievable! Wow. I got this CD to hear "For Once in My Life" since I am a Stevie Wonder fan, but this version is pretty crazy and very far away from the original, to the point where it's almost comical. Stevie Wonder also just plays a harmonica solo and doesn't sing: Gladys Knight does. Old Blue Eyes is a legend for a reason and he owns this style, so if you're a fan, you'll surely enjoy this CD.

Various Artists "Bokoor Beats"

This is a collection of Afro-rock, -beat, -pop, electric highlife, and related genres recorded by and/or written by John Collins. Bokoor means "coolness" and that is what you've got here. Extremely funky 70's guitar and bass lines and tones mingle with driving African percussion and you've got a groovin' sound. Some have ties closer to jazz, some closer to funk (James Brown), some closer to 70's contemporary electric psychedelic rock (especially Jimi Hendrix), some disco.... The African quality is always distinctive and prominent though, hence the "Afro" prefix. It's interesting how well two different sounds made in different continents can be simply superimposed and then begin to mesh. My only complaint could be that the songs are extremely repetitive. Verse and chorus riffs just loop endlessly; only vocal parts change. However, there's no reason most people could possibly dislike listening to this music. It's compelling and universally acceptable: interesting, no?

Another Big Machine "Volume 1"

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A pre-release, promotional copy of this album came into my hands and I had no idea what it was. Turns out it's a pretty good band that is pretty good at playing emo exactly by the book. Close comparisons and probable influences include The All-American Rejects, Switchfoot, Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eat World, The Academy Is..., that sort of thing, as well as cited influences of 90's rock like Matchbox 20. Some parts of the singer's voice recall The Rocket Summer but just not as high and annoying, so that's a plus. The last song "Go" is my favorite of the album. There's nothing inherently wrong with the songs and to be honest, they were recorded/produced well and if I had written them, I would be happy. However, there's no denying that this isn't obviously formulaic and tired in style, but if your alumni association needs to hire a band that coed buzzed twenty-somethings can nod their heads to in unison, Another Big Machine is probably cheap.

The Sugarcubes "Stick Around For Joy"

For those of you who don't know, The Sugarcubes was Björk's band that made the bridge from the late 80's to early 90's before Björk went off on her own. This is probably all the information you need to know that the Sugarcubes are awesome, but do take a listen for yourself. They have a punk aesthetic (really punchy syncopated drums and grungy bass lines) mixed with 80's synth patches and The Cure dramatic guitar swells, all topped off with Björk's sui generis wails and sensibility. Interesting stuff and if you like Björk and alt rock and can tolerate the 80's, you'll get down to the Sugarcubes.

Hot Chip "Coming On Strong"

Interesting 11-track effort from 2005 from British electro-pop band Hot Chip. Something about their sound I would describe as minimalist. Sure there are different layers going on but there is space in the stereo image and the beats have room to breathe. It's not clogged full of rapidly changing notes, it's a little looser, a little more free and breathable, so it has a chill vibe to it. 80's style drum samples provide simple looping beats while the harmonies stagger and evolve in a way you might expect from a creative indie rock band but not necessarily a four-on-the-floor dance music outfit, so it's clear Hot Chip is not the latter. Fans of lo-fi (for its minimalist aesthetic), electronic (for its beats and sample-based riffs) and indie rock (for its non-formulaic approach to an old, formulaic genre) will have something to enjoy in Hot Chip. This record is not particularly radio-friendly, however, but later releases head that way.

mewithoutYou "it's all crazy! it's all false! it's all a dream! it's alright"

This 2009 album is a collection of neo-folk, indie rock songs with vivid religiously themed lyrics. Interesting song structure and interesting instrumentation complements the dense lyrical content. I wasn't too familiar with mewithoutYou before this album; all I knew was they were a little wacky, had religious undertones, and the singer had a bit of a strange voice. Apparently (I learned via Wikipedia) with this album they refined and mellowed out their sound and the vocalist spends more time singing rather than shout-talking. So I'm not sure if this is a good place to start or not in understanding mewithoutYou but I found it at PREX for $2 so...this one is first. Probably not last.