DeVotchKa - How It Ends
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Free Music Notes for How It Ends
Free Music Review: such a lovely thing!
Hit: 5 Stars
I saw DeVotchKa open for the Dresden Dolls, having absolutely no idea what they were like, except for the hearing the word "Ukranian" associated with them. When I saw the band's set-up -- a guy playing both accordion and violin (not at the same time...), a woman playing bass and a giant tuba lit up with Christmas lights, a percussionist with a trumpet, and a frontman who looked like the spawn of Morrissey -- well, yes, that got my attention. And when they started to play...I was thoroughly Impressed. With a capital "I". Nick Urata, the vocalist -- his voice gave me chills, his alternately plaintive and powerful falsetto nearly brought tears to my eyes. In addition to electric guitar and bouzouki, he also played a theremin. (A THEREMIN. Anybody who knows me knows that the way to my heart is via the ability to play a theremin. But I digress.) The energy of the performance was contagious and I felt myself getting swept up in the music that was at once foreign and familiar to my ears. I don't usually seek out this type of music, it was simply thrust upon me, and I liked it a lot.
So I needed to get their CD, ANY one of them, and fast. "How It Ends" was my choice, and it lived up to their live show. With artists I'm not familiar with, I usually fear that their recorded material is weaker than actually seeing a performance. I wasn't let down at all. In fact, the songs on this album have even *more* resonance, and are infused with so much heart and soul and passion and beauty that I still get goosebumps and tears in my eyes. My personal favorites include "You Love Me," "The Enemy Guns" (there's nothing remotely Ukranian about this one, it's actually a Mexican-type norteno), "Dearly Departed" (makes me bawl every time), and "Such a Lovely Thing." But all of the tracks are amazing in their own right.
Free Music Review: Overrated by other reviewers
Hit: 2 Stars
I bought this CD based on the reviews and because I really like Firewater and Gogol Bordello -- 2 other bands with a strong eastern European influence. Unfortunately, DeVotchKa is simply not in the same category as these other phenomenal bands. With a few notable exceptions, most of the songs are derivative and lack energy, and frequently consist of too much repetition of simple melodies without adding good counterpoint. If you want something like this that will knock your socks off, get Firewater "Get Off the Cross ... We Need the Wood For the Fire" or Gogol Bordello "Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike". DeVotchka is an OK band, but certainly not worthy of the endless 5-star reviews it got for this album. I strongly suspect a lot of the 5 star reviews are from band members or friends of the band. Buyer beware!Free Music Review: Different Music
Hit: 5 Stars
Great music using instruments that I am not used to hearing in rock bands. Very refreshing. But the the reason I'm writing this review is not actually to review it, but to ask some questions about packaging and track names. According to Amazon and my computer when I put in the disc, track five is named "How It Ends." On the back of the case, however, track five is named "You Already Know." Also, the case skips track thirteen, going directly from twelve to fourteen. "Reprise" is then bumped back to track fifteen, and fourteen is named "Sadie's Theme," which is another track title that does not show up when I insert the disc. The computer says there are fourteen tracks, and number thirteen is named "Lunnaya Pogonka." I am pretty confused.Free Music Review: don't wait
Hit: 5 Stars
I've always wanted to like Gypsy music, but somehow although I'm drawn to some elements of it as reflected in classical music (notably the fiddling style learned from this source by middle-European musicians of the last century), the real thing has always been oddly uncomfortable to my ear. Devotchka has distills the heart of whatever it was that I sought from the Gypsies and pours it out pure and aching; and what's more the songs are -- can it be? -- actually ABOUT stuff. I heard "Dearly Departed" on an NPR "All Songs Considered" broadcast some while ago, went in hot pursuit of this band's work, and have been wallowing in it ever since (with necessary sanity breaks, since I find their sound really takes over and makes thinking kinda difficult). Once the movie "Everything is Illuminated" is released with Devotchka on the sound track, their music will be everywhere. My advice is, get into it NOW, before this group's sound gets dulled by over-familiarity and while you can still be shocked to tears by the sustained drive and beauty of their artistry.Free Music Review: Devotchka - How It Ends
Hit: 4 Stars
This album is absolutely breathtaking from beginning to end!
Urata's vocals are awe-inspiring with brilliant harmonies, in select songs, by fellow band member Jeanie Schroder. The lyrics create such imagery that you feel left longing for mexican sunsets and lost loves. Even instumental songs such as Charlotte Mittnacht (the Fabulous Destiny Of...)are enough to make you pack up and fly off to Paris.Great songs include: every single one. Honestly.
I highly recommend this album. It is a definite top 5!