Cursive - The Ugly Organ
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Free Music Notes for The Ugly Organ
Free Music Review: I'll stop speaking for you if you stop speaking for me
Hit: 5 Stars
It's never a good thing for music to repeat itself and to remain stagnant; every band sounding like the other. When a band takes a sound they've spent years playing and perfecting and changes it, most people cry foul. Curisve have taken the mid western style of punk/emo that they have helped create and spiced it up. A cello was added, and gave this band new life. Before this album Cursive was already one of the best bands in the indie world, and with "The Ugly Organ" they have solidified their position as one of the most creative and talented bands in the world. "The Ugly Organ" is a masterwork, one of the defining albums that is truly perfect in every way imaginable. Artwork = amazing. Production = top-notch. Lyrics = true poetry written by an amazing writter, spectacular, and will leave you saying "wow, did he really write that?" after you read them. They are that good. Vocals = Tim has an amazing voice, and I think it shows the most on this record. He has such command of his voice and delivers his lyrics in a truly meaningful and haunting way. Music = Words can't describe it. Infectious drumming, truly amazing guitar work, and the addition of the cello to this band has only made it better. The cello adds a new depth and diversity to the songs. The whole album is haunted by a feeling of despair and darkness...but not in an evil way...more in an honest "this is being real" naked kind of way (both with the lyrics and music). Every song on this album is brilliantly written and played.
If you want to know what it sounds like, think old Cursive only with a cello, more diversity (bells, organ, etc) thrown in, and the natural progression the band would take in its growth. If you don't know what Curisve sounds like, think mid western rock/emo/punk played as well and original as you can imagine it. The Ugly Organ is a concept album, which only helps (as we all know concept albums are better than regular albums).
The Ugly Organ is full of emotional heartfelt songs, most of which are on the darker side when it comes to lyrics and atmosphere. "Gentleman Caller", "Buthcer the Song" and "Bloody Murderer" are the three standout tracks, as they display the most growth and talent. "Bloody Murderer", "Driftwood: A Fairy Tale", "The Rescue" and "Siera" give me chills still. "Red Handed Slight of Hand" and "Art is Hard" are the two straight foward rockers of the album, and the album ends with the 10 minute epic "Staying Alive". Even the interludes are amazing. The Ugly Organ is a true masterpiece, and one that should be enjoyed by all. Cursive is one of those bands that get little respect and attention, yet deserve it much more than most other bands. So buy this album, and all Cursives prior works.
Oh, and another thing...Cursive have always toured a lot, and they have been on the road supporting this album almost none stop since it has been released. Any and all attention/recognition they get they deserve. Buy this record and support a record company (Saddle Creek) and a band(Curisve, incase you weren't paying attention) that are in it for the music and only the music. For it is them that make music worth while and meaningful. Thank you.
Free Music Review: Omaha... I love you...
Hit: 5 Stars
I think Kasher has created a wonderful album with the Ugly Organ, a brilliant concept piece of art vs. commercialism. Perhaps Cursive fans were a little let down with Domestica, an album created shortly after Kasher's bitter divorce. However, I for one was given hope with the Burst and Bloom EP, an album for the first time involving the cellist Gretta Cohn.Kasher may sound like a bitter, angst filled teen, but it actually goes far beyond this. The two bands Kasher fronts (Cursive and The Good Life), both are filled with songs of loss and anger. Where does it all come from inside that lanky indie exterior?
The single, "Art is Hard," perhaps gives some insight to this. Giving a not-so-vague analogy to his forced anger to entertain the masses of depressed indie children who are his fans. "Cut it out- your self-inflicted pain / is getting too routine / the crowds are catching on / to the self-inflicted song," "Fall in love to fail / to boost your CD sales." It goes on. It goes on with rhythmic guitars and the most honest vocals of Tim Kasher's career with Cursive.
Surprisingly, though, the album does not remain bitter the entire extent. In "The Recluse," Kasher is bitter about different things. He actually sings about his depressing moments of waking up in unknown women's beds. Ahhh, single-life is getting to Kasher, married-life got to Kasher, what can this sad, sad man do? Kasher says: "I'm not that desperate... Oh no, Oh God, I am."
The middle-part of the album holds nothing very special to me musically, just solid, good songs. "Butcher the Song" is a nice little piece with beautiful cello and a bit of organ. "A Gentleman Caller" is a song more reminiscent of earlier Cursive work, with screaming vocals and pounding guitars, ending in such an orchestral way, one would barely realize it's the same song.
The end of the album holds what I feel are the best songs. Both "Bloody Murderer" and "Sierra" feature guest backing vocals by, again, Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley (not that I could even point them out). The background on "Bloody Murderer" holds this eerie, perhaps frightening aura that Cursive also has live. "Sierra" is just such a quality, wonderful song, full of crescendos, strong vocals, depressing cello, and pounding drums and strumming guitars. But the song goes so much deeper into Kasher's life, where he pleads for the life he had once with his wife before they moved to Portland and destroyed their relationship. He wants to be the one to kiss his daughter goodnight, he wants to be in that apartment with her.
It's at that point where no matter what Kasher could say or do, you love him so much, because he's so sad but obviously such a wonderful man. It doesn't even matter that the finale, "Staying Alive," is a brillant 10 minute epic closer with a chorus that will haunt your dreams for months to come.
Another wonderful album for 2003. Kasher has done well with the band.
For fans of: Thursday, the Blood Brothers, Sorry About Dresden, Bright Eyes, the Faint, Desparecidos, the Good Life, the Detachement Kit, the Liars, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Q & Not U, Small Brown Bike and maybe something more like Ikara Colt ...
Free Music Review: DAMN. INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL MUSIC! DAMN.
Hit: 5 Stars
ALLright all you whiny pretentious emo/indie scum, I concede defeat. After listening to countless albums of formulaic whine,riff,chorus,whine,riff,chorus,pretend like your on the verge of tears,riff,chorus, Cursive produces an album which all you sniffling Emocore kids can be proud of. Time to get those Dashboard Confessional and Get-Up Kids albums and toss them in the garbage like the rubbish they are. I, as you can probably tell, do not buy into the whole Emo/Hardcore whatever it is that you call yourselves sub-culture. I'm kinda sceptical of people's intentions IE: do they actually like this Emo crap, or just listen to it to be part of the "scene" So naturally, I had low expectations that fateful night when I popped The Ugly Organ into my CD player, and was in no way prepared for what I was about to experience. By the end of "Staying Alive" I felt extremely tense and yet incredibly relieved. These are two powerful and very different emotions to be feeling at once, and while my eyes felt like they were ready to burst out of their sockets, my body felt like it had lost all of its bone matter and was lying into a gelatinous heap on my bed (like in that episode of the Family Guy). Yes, this oh-so sceptical reviewer got his sorry ass blown away.Now here's why:
1) Tim Kasher's vocals actually sounds like he has something to be upset about. Unlike the countless other Emo crooners who simply cater to the masses of depressed and disillusioned youth, and whose falseness is hard to ignore.
2) The addition of the cello was absolute genius. It adds a lot of body and texture to the songs, it complements Kahser's vocals perfectly and is instrumental in creating the dramatic theme of the album.
3) The Ugly Organ is a concept album in a genre of music that does not lend itself well to concepts. This is an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety.
4) Most importantly, and I'm afraid that most of you insecure image driven wanna-be hipsters out there are missing this, The Ugly Organ is an incredibly complex and intelligent peice of music. Just look at the layering of guitar and cello chords on top of each other, the sampled movie dialogue at the end of "Butcher the Song" and the perfect harmonious balance of beautifully fragile melodies and harsh power cords. The final track alone, "Staying Alive" is easily one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have heard in my entire life. And I've heard a lot of music. Just listen as cello, guitar and Kasher's dynamic vocals reach to a stunning, intense and amazingly beautiful polyphonic crescendo. Feels like Alex lisseing to the 9th in A Clockwork Orange. " Like a bird of rarest spun heaven metal, or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship gravity all nonesense now" haha
Wheew, this is damn good stuff people. Pretentious as hell, but as Kasher says "Art is Hard," and he most definitely delivers.
Free Music Review: Incredible
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought two CDs a few days a go, Love and Distortion by Stratford 4 and The Ugly Organ by Cursive. After listening to both I had the following realization.The Stratford 4 are from my hometown of SF and they drop Bay Area refrences all over it. I have read a few reviews that described this as the best underground band in the SF scene. I owned their previous album and found it monotonous but decided to give this one a chance based on these reviews. After a few listens, there are a couple nice songs, but the music is so derivative of various indie rock sounds over the last ten years. Moreover, it is a little bit of a boring CD. Yes it is a step up from their last album, but it really gives me reason to despair the state of music in SF if this is the vanguard of Bay Area indie rock.
Cursive, on the other hand, are from Omaha. Never been there, don't know anything about it. SF is routinely featured in commerials and tv shows, and, having lived here, it is filled with trendy people, many of whom have the impression that SF is the NY of the west coast, even though it is dwarfed by the true big cities of NY or Chicago. I doubt Omaha has such illusions. But what is interesting is this album by Cursive is unbelievable. It is like nothing else I have heard and it is exciting and enjoyable. Cursive represent the true vanguard of indie rock. Bands like Creeper Lagoon and Stratford 4 from SF get lots of hype as do the Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeah from NY, but none of them could hold a candle to the originality of Cursive from less than provincial Omaha.
I found this realization interesting. If you want a nice record that sounds like a good indie rock record from the early to mid 90s then get Stratford Four. If you want to hear the future, get the Ugly Organ.
Lastly, I saw a live show in Chicago by another Omaha band called the Faint. The greatest rock show I have ever seen. I am ready to move to Omaha, if I knew anything about it, but I don't, so I won't. But "hats off" to Nebraska. There must be some wild GMOs in that beef and corn.
Free Music Review: Cursive is a godsend
Hit: 5 Stars
2003 was a really weak year in music, make no fuss about it. But when I reflect on the year that was, I come to the conclusion that Cursive dished out one of the best albums, of their careers and of last year.
The factor that makes this band so undeniable rich, is their ability to embrace 'artistic' concepts and meld them into a soulfully invigorating métier.
The Ugly Organ opens with a bang, thanks to tracks such as "Some Red Handed Sleight of Hand" and "Art is Hard". After two very energetic tracks, in which Tim Kasher pratically yells out every verb with utter sarcasm. The transition to song #4, "The Recluse" is priceless. Its' a more softer tone of the band, with Gretta Cohen's near-angelic voice present in the background.
For the most part, the album has a knack for using fairy-tale themes to carry out its' message, songs like "Herald! Frankenstein ", "Butcher the Song", and "Harold Weathervein" are clear indications of that. The next song that caught my attention was "Driftwood: A Fairy Tale ", another wonderful case of fantastic lyrical craftmenship being induced with fantastic musicianship.
To best explain how Cursive sound, is to say they sound part vulgar and sarcastic, yet beautiful and full of elegeance (Thanks to the well-sounding cello). The best song on the album is "Gentleman Caller ", it starts off fast and raw as Tim Kasher sings about two people whose relationship was ruined over a bitter argument, by the second half of the song. The track becomes full of beauty and hope, as Tim Kasher sings about promise and making it work out, in spite of the problems.
Cursive put out a hell of album, one that truly shows how far they've come, yet they still remain raw and artsy. It's too bad a band like Cursive will never be truly given the time of day, aside from a set of devoted listeners who spread the word of this band. But that's ok, because when all the airwaves of radio fill people's minds with waste, I'll be listening to this great band, to them, to Cursive.