|  Friday, July 18, 2008
anna ternheim
halfway to fivepoints
  
|
On Anna Ternheims American debut Halfway to Fivepoints (Decca), fans with discerning musical tastes may notice a couple immediate objections upon first inspection. 1) There is a rather major kind of record label staring back at you from the cover; a definite red flag for many fans of independent rock. 2) These songs could very easily end up on an episode of One Tree Hill. Thats right
I said One Tree Hill!
But a funny thing happens to those who are resilient enough to overlook such offenses, and give Halfway to Fivepoints a proper play through. Such high falutin ideals quickly drift away. In their place, the Swedish Grammy winner offers a listening experience plump full of just the right amount of mystery and wonder
and not because Ternheims somewhat of a newcomer to American audiences. No, shes a skilled practitioner, embedding just enough subtle, temperamental moods in her songs to leave listeners slightly on edge. Opener Girl Laying Down, for example, rides a familiar, cascading piano line throughout the chorus. But where the moment might recall the same piano line that infects Coldplays Clocks, the buildup during the verse is surely more theatric than anything Chris Martin has ever pulled off.
So goes the story of Fivepoints. Songs seem somewhat simple on the surface. But through impressive production and slightly skewed song-writing efforts, theyre pressed into exciting, unexpected places. Bridges nibbles on a variety of sonic trestles throughout its slow burning build, offering a little something for everyone who hears it. Honky tonk guitar twangs, glockenspiel, cartoonish piano plunks; a variety of instrumentation comes and goes, each playing their own unique role before trailing off into the void. The Ones to Blame is a strangely nocturnal affair, quietly tip toeing along the story line of a girl who cant quite get over the man whos no more (Sample lyric: She likes to call him, wake him, at night when hes in bed. Shes oh so quiet, hangs up when he says his name). And isolated, acoustic strummer Little Lies enhanced only by a quivering harmonica is so finale, so fragile, it probably would have broke Ternheims heart to write it. Good thing Fleetwood Mac handled that responsibility.
In the end, Halfway to Fivepoints is as rewarding a listening experience as anything that has come before it this year. In fact, the album may very well be the finest recorded effort this side of Bon Ivers For Emma, Forever Ago. A bold statement I know, but one Im sure youll be prepared to make after fetching the record from your discard pile. - david pitzShare To:       |
|
Reviews:
By Band:
A B C D E F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T
U V W X Y Z
By Date:
March, 2010
February, 2010
January, 2010
December, 2009
November, 2009
October, 2009
September, 2009
August, 2009
July, 2009
June, 2009
May, 2009
April, 2009
March, 2009
February, 2009
January, 2009
December, 2008
November, 2008
October, 2008
September, 2008
August, 2008
July, 2008
June, 2008
May, 2008
April, 2008
March, 2008
February, 2008
January, 2008
December, 2007
November, 2007
October, 2007
September, 2007
August, 2007
July, 2007
June, 2007
May, 2007
April, 2007
March, 2007
February, 2007
January, 2007
The Gunshy
There Is No Love In This War
akron family
set em' wild set em' free
them crooked vultures
them crooked vultures
|
