Bombadil – Tarpits & Canyonlands
I have been mulling this record over for some time, because it is something of a progression from Bombadil’s previous, brilliant album. Consequently it has taken me a little time to adjust, and I didn’t want to rush out a review based entirely on my initial reaction, which was the standard precious music fan’s – “Er, different, why, what have you done?”.
Where A Buzz, A Buzz was mental with stomping folky brilliance, this is more of an eclectic pop album by comparison, ringing with piano, harmonies, handclaps and thumping drums. They are an exuberant band, and this sincere enthusiasm is slathered all over this record. Songs go berserk in the middle, much like their live shows, arrangements have all sort of things thrown at them – big choruses, glittering strings, crescendos of rhythmic shifts and all sorts of other things.
At other times, Bombadil are downright sentimental. Reasons and Marriage are really rather sadly lovely. I remember sitting in the middle of one of the most insane and brilliant live shows I’ve ever seen, at Pickathon last year, when they suddenly stopped leaping and prancing around the place and Daniel sat at the piano to play Marriage. Give the kind of set which the song seemed to stop clean in its tracks, I’ve rarely seen a song make such an impact on an audience.
I think that the only reason I think this album doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor is perhaps because the band haven’t quite hit the heights with the most upbeat songs on this one. One Two Three and Trip Out West have their match on Tarpits & Canyonlands, but Cavaliers Har Hum and Rosetta Stone do not, in my personal opinion. Maybe that comes from the the slightly sprawling nature of this record. It’s only forty-five minutes long, but there are fifteen songs and it somehow feels just a little bit messy, in terms of sequencing. Then again, maybe I’m just being silly, because listening through, this is absolutely full of brilliant songs. So Many Ways to Die, Oto the Bear, Honeymoon, Reasons… so much to love. If you ever get the chance to see these guys live, believe me you’d better not fail to take it. And if after seeing them you don’t want to buy everything they have or ever will release, then I’ll eat my fucking hat, quite frankly.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Ah, yes… that “Marriage” song is a real killer! And 15 songs is a lot to pull off, but I still think this is perhaps my “best of” for 2009 so far. The songs are so intimate and also so off-putting in a way, I’m still listening to it a couple of times a week since I got it over two months ago. Staying power says a lot to me! Thanks for putting them out there, Matthew. They surely deserve to be more widely known xoxo
Hey Matthew,
When reviewing Tarpits and Canyonloands a couple weeks ago I actually quoted YOU about their brilliant live shows.
But unfortunately, Bombadil is entirely canceling their live shows for the forseeable future because of Daniel’s arthritis. Here’s what we wrote about that..
Update (5/31): Just got word from the Bombadil folks that due to an unfortunate bout of events, they will be canceling all shows for the foreseeable future. We are of course saddened by this news, but wish them the best in their future endeavors. Expect an official announcement from them tomorrow. Update (6/1): Official announcement.
* referenced you…. and uh, Canyonlands.
I thought it was tendonitis? Anyway…
I can’t wait until you review the new Bowerbirds.
I’ve had it months & STILL don’t know what to make of it.
Quoted me? Lord, man, you must be able to do better than that!
Just joking – thanks.
They’ve also lost Stuart, their pianist, from the looks of it, so things may just be a little tumultuous in Bombadil world at the moment. I’ll email Bryan and ask him.
Tart – thanks my dear. Yes, I’ve been listening to it a lot as well. Certainly when I first heard Marriage in the middle of such a raucous set it was amazingly striking and very disarming, but listening to this album and hearing it in a different context it makes a little more sense.
DC – not heard it at all yet, will sort that out tomorrow.
Oh wow, that’s really too bad, Bryan only told us about Daniel. I was looking forward to seeing them at the City Winery in NYC a couple nights ago after reading all those salivating reviews of their live shows, but alas, no luck. Let’s hope they all get better health-wise soon!
And Drunk Country, you’re correct, it was Tendonitis, I apologize, I read back over the email and announcement. I got myself confused as well
All the more reason to buy this album and get your friends to as well. It must be fucking difficult to promote a new record when ya can’t tour