Bowerbirds – Hymns For a Dark Horse
Pleasant folk-pop with some bouncy little tunes and plenty of smiles – gosh there seems to be a lot of this sort of thing around at the moment. There’s plenty of Andrew Bird in the Bowerbirds, and that makes for a pleasantly-paced, enjoyable listen with just enough casual wistfulness to avoid the saccharine and the overly twee.
When people think of this album they, or I at least, tend to think of the catchy one: In Our Talons. Fair enough; it is an incredibly infectious tune, with the potential to adorn many an intelligent movie about awkward but nevertheless gifted teenagers. And in that sentence is, for me, the slight drawback of this album: it slots too comfortably and easily into a niche that is already pretty well inhabited and after the first half of the record, I just don’t hear that much to really differentiate it.
Ultimately I think I have to say that I am enjoying this. It may not set the world on fire, but there are some genuine moments of sparkle that wink at you from a backdrop that is admittedly a little too familar a lot of the time. Especially early on though, this album can be a real treat.
Bowerbirds – In Our Talons
Bowerbirds – Dark Horse
They’re very good live, and I believe they’re at End of the Road this year? John Darnielle’s favorite band. They opened for him in DC last Fall and acquitted themselves very well. Didn’t someone say something about pretty women and the accordion? Mm. Mm. Mm.
They are indeed playing EotR and as the lineup isn’t quite as mind-blowingly strong this year as last I am hoping to be able to catch every band I like this time around. I’ll look forward to hearing these guys actually.
At first, I agreed with you about the “indie” nature of the later part of the album. But now its been several months, and when I put the album onto my ipod, I almost can’t avoid singing along full-voiced to every single track. It isn’t just the melodies, as nice and complex as they are, or the harmonies, but the actual way the words are spoken/sung. The wrapping around of words like “hearts” and “mountain” and “notice”, just makes me smile while I sing. And that’s the way a good album should be.
Funny, I was just going to say something like ‘they’re playing at EOTR this year, must catch them’ then all ye buggers beat me to it…
if u say they sound like other current bands, please make me a list, I haven’t been able to find anyone that compares with this sound since nick drake, but with a lil more hope