This Busy Monster - Fireworks
(Barsuk)
This Busy Monster is a trio which has been around since the early 90s.
The first time I heard Fireworks, their 2nd album, I didn't like it. I
was listening to it on my headphones as I trudged
home from my sweet job at the phone book company.
Looking back, I realize I didn't like it then because
I was so busy avoiding cars and pigeon crap I wasn't
paying attention to the intricacies of the album--the
variety of moods and the clever mix of genres and
instruments--that make it good. Because there is a lot
of rock on this album, it could be mistaken for simply
that. But there is much more to Fireworks.
In songs like "The Curious Sofa" and "Loup-Garou,"
This Busy Monster successfully mixes genres and
instruments to make their own style. "Loup-Garou"
seems to be a concoction of country (I tend to think
of square dancing), rock, and classical, which is
created with the banjo, clarinet, violin, and
percussion, along with standard guitars, drums, and
vocals. You might think this would be too much, but
the song sounds full and warm. In "The Curious
Sofa," which just might be my favorite, the violin is
playful with harmonics and other airy sounds. Cello
and french horn weave in with the violin and make a dynamic
background for the song. Also, many songs are
pleasantly moody. For example, "Swoon" shifts in and
out of jazz, and "Smell of Blood" switches from peppy
rock to solemn piano and vocals.
However, not all the tracks are as interesting. Some,
like "Gold Stop Watch" and "Unsong" are regular,
boring songs much like any other you would hear any
day from whatever band. For the most part, though,
this album is fun to listen to. Not only is the
instrumentation clever, Christopher Possandra has a
strong, clear voice, and his lyrics are entertaining.
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