Crooked Fingers - s/t
(Warm)
The Archers of Loaf's fourth and final full-length album, White Trash Heroes,
was largely forgettable and, in some parts, even unlistenable. With age,
the band became more and more experimental (likely purposefully distancing
themselves from their hook-filled college radio-friendly beginnings), and
the final round of experiments produced a few jagged, prinkly duds. That
album was salvaged by its last two songs, the barroom sing-along "After the
Last Laugh" and the Eno-esque mix of keyboards on the anthemic title track.
Crooked Fingers is the second solo project from Eric Bachmann, lead singer
of the Archers of Loaf, and this album is his first since the demise of
his previous band. The Crooked Fingers album takes as a starting point those
two great tracks from White Trash Heroes. The barroom is revisited
as Bachmann and Orenda Fink beg for a "New Drink for the Old Drunk" and again
in a chorus of la's and da's in the closing of "A Little Bleeding." Although
the keyboards of "White Trash Heroes" are used only sparingly here, the same
approach is used, orchestrating pop ballads, as in "Crowned in Chrome", instead
of aggressively mixing guitar parts. In all, the album shows a keen emphasis
on simply creating a beautiful melody, mostly through a mix of cello, violin,
cleanly played guitar, and Bachmann's distinctive voice (sounding less strained
than it has in years).
Anyone worried that the time spent away from the rigors of constant touring
may have given Bachmann a rosier look on life can quickly put those concerns
to rest. Bachmann is as depressed as ever, or at least his lyrics are,
dwelling on his pet topics of the tight, endless grasp of drunken addiction,
sheer misery, and the escape of death. The songs are tied together by these
common themes and recurring imagery such as being at the bottom of a well and
being set on fire. While being set on fire may seem like an odd fascination,
Bachmann uses it to extend the imagery based on his addiction to alcohol,
referring to "Juliette" being dowsed with white gasoline then two songs later
requesting "Set me on fire white liquor girl" in "Under Sad Stars." The fuel
of the fire that kills in these songs is vodka not gasoline, and, naturally,
the spark to that fire comes from Bachmann's other foible, cigarettes.
Crooked Fingers is a strikingly beautiful downer. Even the barer songs, where
not much more is used other than Bachmann's guitar and voice, are lush, rich,
and colorful. Unlike Bachmann's eclectic, instrumental first solo outfit Barry
Black, Crooked Fingers should appeal to all Archers of Loaf fans. In fact,
with its bitter lyrics and sweet melodies, it stands up well against the
Archers' finer points.
|
