Rating 4.5
Spellbindingly, heartwrenchingly magicalThis is one of those albums that just stays with me- I've often said and I truly think this- some works of art are like a nexus- they are steeped a personal connotation that not only makes them special for the individual listener, they work brings out the listener's (or the reader's/watcher's- what have you) sense of his or her self as distinct and unrepeatable. This CD does that for me. It's magical. But all great art is. It's a short album. Nine songs clocking in at 29'27". The tone is definitely not what one would expect from the singer and guitarist from one of the more powerful, under-rated and viscerally enchanting bands of the 90's- Sunny Day Real Estate. If you were there in '94 or '95 and you heard them- well, then you know what I'm talking about here. Stylistically this sounds like something Syd Barrett might have done if it had occurred to him. The songs are mostly acoustic fare with Enigk's plaintively strained vocals (a caveat- his voice either pulls you into the room stroking your chin or sends you out, ears cupped to your head, agog) and strange lyrics. There are string sections and chimes- at times it sounds like he's the pied piper leading children away to a different world... Most of the songs are upbeat, major key fare (the appropriately titled `Carnival,' being the one overtly dark song). Don't think them happy though... The emotions conveyed are hard to pin down, like Proteus, like Silenus... I rarely do this but here- track by track... Abegail Anne: album opens with two chords strummed and a droning noise. Jeremy's vocals slip in the backdoor and murmur away... This song builds and builds fantastically... And was used incredibly well in the film, `Dream with the Fishes,' the director or whomever structured the film's climactic scene to this brief and gorgeous song that sounds like dawning epiphany and madness... I love it. Succinct opener to this- about 3 minutes long. Return of the Frog Queen: Dreamy and sleepy song, sounds sorta like a western lullaby at first, with J's hushed vox but then the bridge adds some danger... Pretty and evocative. Lewis Hollow: Sounds similar to track one. Just Jeremy and his guitar, strumming the same harmonic progression, repeatedly which PERFECTLY segues into- Lizard: also starts out with a circular, chime-like acoustic line. But other instruments start creeping in like lizards, settling on leaves around Jeremy. The wind instruments are lovely. As the tension mounts J's vocals become harsher and harsher- the song ends with a simple guitar/violin line that is sublime. Carnival: The centerpiece of the album. Starts off darkly, a clean-tone electric guitar plays softly, Drums and bass come in with J's voice. The song lives up to its name with the sweeping string section. J's vocals are jagged and strained, alternately soft/loud, this one is like a sudden nightmare in the middle of an exquisite daydream. The strings whirl and keen, and the propulsive urgency builds and builds. And then stops. Right around the 4 minute mark.
Call Me Steam: My favorite, and another dreamlike, lullaby beginning, with strings that weepingly surround J's vocals, buttressing the melody line. The `rise and shine,' lyric calls to mind that he sang it almost the exact way on SDRE's LP 2. This one is so understatedly beautiful it just kills me. Later on, J's doubles his vocals and harmonizes with himself. This song is so pure and tender it calls to mind Dostoevsky's `The Idiot.' I wish someone had sung this to me as a baby. Explain: what is it with those circular (reminds me of SDRE's `In Circles,') guitar parts, this one builds quickly to a wonderful chorus (how can I explain dear, you've been gone for some time, but I still believe you'll be here oh no again). Every time I hear it I smile. There's so much yearning and joy in this little song. More strings that luminously wrap around the guitar vocals. Ties with the next song as my second favorite. Shade and the Black hat: Now it's the piano playing a circular piece, with a hastily strummed guitar and urgently delivered vocals. Drums on this one and it quickly builds and builds, like a man dashing up a mountain to save something dear to him, the strings tempestuously rising and falling around. Around the 2 and half mark the whole song just ecstatically explodes for the next minute and a half... Fallen Heart: starts with the orchestra tuning up and getting on key, but this is just a ruse- the song is pretty much a guitar loop played backwards, Jeremy sings over top of it, like a strange child. Occasionally an instrument adds a dash of flavor to the mix, but mostly its just the loop and J's soft voice. You get a tiny bassline around 1:45, then the song just ends abruptly with the orchestra. And that's it. I've been known to put this on repeat (especially around finals week in college) and sit at computer and type away for hours. Great music for any occasion. Whoever said that music is the `soundtrack to your life,' he is a simplistic moron- a frikkin' engineer and a damn salesman. Music is so much more than that. My whole sense of life, all the restless wistfulness, the impotence, the alternating currents of youth- wonder and anguish for me, all those feelings rise to the surface of my mind when I listen to this gem. If you dig Brian Eno, SDRE, Syd Barrett, Leonard Cohen, Tom waits, or strange gorgeous music in general I recommend this to you. Lovely harmoniesEDIT: I'm an idiot. I assumed this was a new-ish album (released circa 2002-2004) when I wrote this. I had absolutely no idea it was already 8 years old. *is quite embarassed* One of my favorite things in the universe is John Lennon circa 1965-1967. Sounds like Mr. Engigk likes that too. My heart still breaks every time I remember that John Lennon was cut down before his time. Listening to this helps. Whether it's intentional or not, he really does have a Lennon-esque lilt in his vocal stylings now. (Though his Kurdt Kobain impression makes a return here and there too.) I wasn't too thrilled with the last two Sunny Day albums, so I really am surprised that this is so great. It's like tasting the best cake in the world and onlygetting a very very small slice. First of all, the fact that Amazon.com says that Jeremy felt like he had to make a grand statement is silly. This record makes no statment at all. I mean, only 29 min's of music? A full orchestra that you can hardly hear half the time? I love Fire Theft and SDRE, and expected more from this record. With the negatives out of the way, it is Jeremy and though his voice still has not matured to mind blowingly good (like on Rising Tide), the music is still great. 2 songs clock in around 2 min's, leaving you with only 7 songs. "Carnival", "Shade and The Black Cat", "Abagail" "Explain" and "Call Me Steam" are the only real songs on this record. It still is good, but before you buy this, just ask yourself how much you really like Jeremy Enigk. |
