 | Tracklist:
1. The Ugly Organist
2. Some Red Handed Slight Of Hand
3. Art Is hard
4. The Recluse
5. Herald! Frankenstein
6. Butcher The Song
7. Driftwood
8. A Gentleman Caller
9. Harold Weathervein
10. Bloody Murderer
11. Sierra
12. Staying Alive
TOTAL TIME: 38.49
| Ranking: #76 for 2003 | |
| | other reviews | Ben Reid (4.5)
If you pick up The Ugly Organ you wont be able to put it down for days. This is a must have album fo... | Matt Conrad (4.5)
A collage of sound, a tale of hope... |
On 49 Lists
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7 of 9 thought this review was well written
Cursive definitely has a sound of their own. Unique vocals, great guitar, a cellist, it's all there. The cello obviously adds to the bands sound immensely.
Cursive is an emotional powerhouse propped up by brilliant post-punk melodies. You can almost feel the angst Kasher is feeling through this concept album about lost love, and remorse.
"My ego's like my stomach / It keeps shitting what I feed it"
It seems as if people frown upon lyrics as the one I've mentioned above which was taken from "The Recluse", which is one of the finest songs on the album. If you're willing to over come the so called "cheezieness" of some depressing lyrics, it's a very interesting album.
Cursive's style tends to cary from song to song. "The Ugly Organist" is a short, almost confusing 53 second intro, which gives way to the hard hitting second track, "Some Red Handed Slight Of Hand". This is one of the most upbeat sounding track on the album, it's on of Cursive's poppier songs.
Track 3 and 4 are possibly two of Cursive's best songs ever recorded. If you ever decide to check out anything by Cursive, I definitely suggest you get your hands on "Art Is Hard" and "The Recluse". Both equally breathtaking, though very dissimilar.
"Herald! Frankentein" is only 47 seconds long. It starts out quiet, then gradually gets louder giving way to a few whispered vocals over top of highly distorted guitars. It melds into "Butcher The Song", an almost creepy track. I've noticed that word describes Cursive quite well, creepy.
Next is "Driftwood", another poppy song with showcasing Kasher's great vocals. Back to a harder song for " A Gentleman Song". This track has basically dropped the melodicism altogether, going for the hard-hitting post-punk approach. As the song progresses, it calms down a bit, cello playing the entire time, as with most of Cursive's tracks.
The intro of "Herald Weathervein" kind of reminds me of the beginning of that Good Charlotte track, with the cello. Don't worry though, that's about all they have in common. Really interesting guitar work on this track, I like it a lot. Kasher yells away, displaying his angst and anxiety for everyone to see.
"Bloody Murderer" is a more melodic track, which gives way to "Sierra". "Sierra" starts out quiet with the cello and guitar, gradually getting louder and hits you all at once. This is a great track.
"Staying Alive is the last track timing in at 10 minutes 4 seconds. It starts out very peaceful, and calming for the first couple minutes. Slowely bringing in the vocals and harder guitar. It gets the hardest at about mid-point, and basicaly goes back to the beggining, becoming more peacefull again.
"The Ugly Organ" is a definite suggestion to any post-punk/indie-rock/emo/alternative fan. I highly suggest you check this baby out.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
w00t. I got this a few months ago. Cursive are great.
*realizes you can't rep here*
| | | Album Rating: 4
Amazing album - sometimes his voice can get annoying after repeated listens, but this stuff is definitely top notch and far better than 'Domestica'
Digging: Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose | | | Album Rating: 4
mx no!!! Domestica is far superior. On Domestica, Kasher wrote with a lot of genius interplay between the two guitars and the bass. Every song has everybody riffing and bouncing off another, which provides a really dynamic listen. On The Ugly Organ, Kasher wrote to insert the cello and ends up losing the unique structure of guitars. Instead we're left with a pretentious mess in terms of sonic landscape. It's still a good CD, but I think you are downplaying how annoying the CD can be in more ways that the voice.
Digging: PSY/OPSogist - Kings Of Sleep | | |
I love the songs I've heard on Purevolume so I'm really looking into buying this. Great review.
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Yes, Dfelon said what I think also. Domestica has the beautiful harmonic and guitar interplay that this cd lacks.
Digging: Do Make Say Think - Other Truths
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Hmm, well maybe I haven't given Domestica the attention it deserves. I have a lot of the songs off the album, but I don't have the entire thing. Perhaps I'll download the rest.
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I dunno how old this review is, but it's pretty weak (sorry IHUN).
The album on the othe other hand... brilliance.
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Haha, yeah, it's pretty new man. I know I'm not the best reviewer out there. I'm guessing it's only a "featured album" because mx likes Cursive. :p
| | | Album Rating: 4
He should feature a Weird Al CD.
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Ah great review. Very truthful, and doesn't overhype any songs. The Recluse is definitely the one song that pulled me into Saddle Creek, which hasn't let me go ever since.
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I like "The Recluse." I found it by pure chance, so it's lucky that it's apparently one of their better songs.
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Art Is Hard has probably the best lyrics i've heard in a while.
| | | Album Rating: 5
I finally got my hands on this album. It's absolutely incredible. Not only does Kasher make a statement like "Music has become stale and everyone just wants to hear the same cliche subject matter of pain, hurt, etc." but the fact that Cursive is able to back it up with such original, fresh music makes this album a 4.5. Plus, this CD contains one of the most emotional vocal performances I have ever heard. The instrumental interplay is fantastic, the vocals are raw and the lyrics go from being cryptic and poetic to forward, almost blunt. Brilliance.
| | | Album Rating: 4
I was really into this album last summer, I felt that I related to alot of the lyrics and aspects of the 'story'. The Recluse and Driftwood are the tops for me, but they are all good.
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I listened to this in the store the other day.
I want, I want, I want.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Fantastic album.
Digging: Taylor Swift - Fearless | | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
The most annoying thing about this album for me is the lyrics to Sierra. It's almost IDENTICAL to a song I wrote a couple years ago.
Digging: Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland | | |
eww i hate it when that happens (iai)
its happened twice to me with sonic youth and interpol
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I'm torn between which is better: Domestica or The Ugly Organ.
I love the lyrics in this album.
| | | Album Rating: 2
The Ugly Organ was a huge dissapointment for me. I have heard only good things about it but I just can't get into the music. I'd give this a 2/5 because there are a few good, solid tracks, but overall this album wasn't good IMO.
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