Let's try something new and exciting

I want to start off by saying that, next to Lightning Bolt and Mahi Mahi, which hold special places in my heart for being the first Providence bands I've ever seen live, at AS220, Sweetthieves might actually surpass them in terms of being one of my favorite bands, period. Because of the lengthy history I have with the band, I will interject now and again with some ancedote I have if I see fit, but this review is meant for someone with similar tastes to my own. While trying to be as fair as possible while obviously mentioning the rights as well as the wrongs...

On the same day of their last show, Sweetthieves released the new full length "Blood & Curses", almost 3 years after their debut "View From A Glass Tower". Comprised of Dave Martinka (Baritone Guitar/vox), Hilary Jones (Bass/vox) and on this release Michael Viera (drums), the three don't offer the standard Providence, or even rock band aesthetic of trying to blow you against the backwall with the power of sound. (Which so many, while doing it very, very, very well are guilty of.) Instead, the three offer themselves as individuals in their instruments, which is ironic considering that Dave's baritone guitar (which is tuned down from a normal guitar) is in almost the same range as Hilary's bass (which is actually tuned UP). But it's pretty clear when listening who is doing what. The guitar tends to offer subtle counter-points or harmonies to the vocal lines when present, and the bass lends itself very well towards going in the upper registers for a lead line, chordal accompanies or even (gasp) playing a very nice solid bassline with the drum groove.

On first listen, the album opens with the song "Bullet". An ode to what seems like an obidient lover, the track ends with Dave and Hilary singing in unison, "I would take a bullet for you, would you take one for me?" in a hesistant phrasing, which leaves the mystery if they are both trying to decieve. The tone of the album doesn't lighten up at all. "I Am With You As Your House Burns To The Ground" (which would make a great band name) offers up a very rhythmically dyslexic feel on 4/4 time, the basis for almost all western music post-war. "Anchor" is a love song (and a fairly happy one at that), which puts a spin on the old "Dark lyrics, happy music" trick by having "Happy lyrics, dark music". It might even be the first pro-love song in a minor key I've ever heard. The song then drops the lovey-dovey lyrics and kicks into a driving rhythm like a possessed car in the middle of the Mojave desert at 100 miles an hour. "Reactant", which might be some of the best vocal work I've ever heard, is a winner. Dissonance opens the song, with twists and turns by the band which shows that the instruments are free to play as they wish, and not everything in the band has to be connected to each other. And then, that driving rhythm comes back, just as the song seems to be going nowhere. One thing I will say about this record in regards to "Glass Tower" is there seems to be less singing on this than the other, maybe it's just more instrumental sections than I've noticed before, but there seems to be a very nice niche for the vocals to lay in a song, almost like a neighborhood in a patch of woods.

But, like all things, there are some slight flaws. The production is very dry, save for a piano track on "Phantom" which really opens things up, but this is almost like a tease. The guitars and drums are panned the same throughout the entire album, with vocals in the center. It's a reproduction of their live setup, and while I can see the Albini-esque production values, they already went for that on "Glass Tower". There's nothing wrong with adding some sonic depth to some tracks, and while I understand that sometimes things get complicated and you can't really DO anything with the recordings. The songs flow together almost immediately. There is really no room to breath on the album, except for where they make you breath with them, when they tell you to. It's a nice effect on the first listen, but after 5th or 6th track, the instinct to hit the pause button and catch your breath comes over. Luckily, the band is well versed in dynamics, where you never find yourself struggling to keep up with their pace.

"Blood & Curses" is in all-likely hood the major swan song for Sweetthieves, sadly. But, the album is nothing to cry over. All the songs are ones that people will kill to write. The driving rhythms and pounding dissonances giveway to breathtaking melodies and vocal delivery. But find yourself ask for a little bit more, in everything.

Rating: B+

New post.

On break, been playing around with Da Troop (www.atroopofechoes.com) for a little while, it goes alright.

Tried to do battle today with my car, of course I just need to replace the battery, but with me it's never that simple. One busted ratchet and 2 failed attempts to start the car with the new battery in (I really, really, really hope it was just because the connectors were loose), I have to stop because there's not more I can do without the proper tools. It just really really frustrates me because the sooner I can get this car in semi-drivable condition the better it means for me. I need to go to the bank and get a bow for my double bass.

Oh, yes, my double bass. It's fine. My intonation is still iffy, but I haven't had a REAL lesson on it yet. Other than that I like playing classical pieces on it surprisingly more than jazz, which I hope changes soon or else it's major (pun intended) change for me.

Oh yes, the Sweetthieves show was two nights ago, how very, very sad, but they played about an hour and a half, playing almost all the songs they've written, except for two or three. It was great, not a big crowd (not the biggest I've seen) but certainly a good one. I was in the front and center like an idiot getting into it, but I guess it paid off because there were three other people behind me getting into it as well. Afterwards Chris grabbed the setlist for me, and I shook everyone's hand and told them the band means a lot to me and I hate to see them go, but it was a great show. Bought the new record, it sounds great.

Saw Slumdog Millionaire, blew me away, almost didn't go see it because I saw it out of sheer boredom. In Narragansett it's either get out of town or do drugs in the wintertime. I can see why some people pick the latter. Great great movie, go see it, it's worth the money.

Argh, I have 500 messages on my phone and I can't remember the security code to delete them all.