Sorry, Zach. This album didn't work. Maybe "Most Disappointing" is a bit harsh. I could say, rather, the "Most Boring, When I Expected Much More Album of the Year". I had come to expect big things from Beirut. Mr. Condon's first two full-lengths are essential, The Gulag Orkestar, and The Flying Club Cup.
These songs from these albums were built upon 19th century European folk structures and traditions, ornamented by old-world instrumentation and a haunting, crooning voice that seeped from the speakers.
The Rip Tide seems to be a step backwards. Not sideways, or in the wrong direction. Just backwards. The songs are not bad, by any means. They are just not as exciting. They lack the deep, lush, arrangements I had come to love from Beirut. They hit anticipated notes. The song-writing seems rushed this time around. It almost listens like a B-sides album. Songs that would have fit in on the first two records, but they would have been low points, encircled by greatness.
That said, I still do really like this song:
No comments:
Post a Comment