Review Summary: "You don't have to die to walk the netherworld..."
I am once again in a writing mood.
If you know me, you'd know I prefer to write reviews specifically on albums I really enjoy, or at least, albums than invoke a strong emotional response within me, hence why many of my reviews (other sites included) are usually positive. Strange Tourist is no exception. With the news of the repressing via Joyful Noise Recordings just yesterday, I figured a review was in order.
Strange Tourist has a story to it. Rather, many stories. Really, each song here is a brief exploration into separate, yet possibly intertwined, narratives. Some in third person, some in first, but all telling the stories of different people, different lived experiences, different attitudes. But one thing is common among these narratives, which is a bitter and sarcastic overtone. Whether it be the sarcastic underplaying of Nazi collaborators in “The Collaborator”, pointing out the ridiculousness of their defenses, or the harsh and dismissive recounting of a PTSD-riddled veteran’s journey, combing both first and third person elements into a story of what feels to be two tattered souls who can’t seem to understand one another, leaving with little resolution or hope, another common theme here.
An article written for Kill Your Darlings about this album briefly discusses a criticism that some levy against his songwriting, being that his music is too wordy. Too depressive maybe, too centered in literary nature.
“But backlash may yet come… Music’s meant to be fun, isn’t it? Escapism, fantasy. Not a book on tape.”
Said criticism is correct in the assertion that his music is, in fact, overly depressive. Overly wordy, overly literary. But that is what makes it so enthralling, is it not? When you find that perfect book, one that drags you into its world so much so that you can imagine every detail within your head. The wordiness of the book is what helps bring you into its world. Albums are a shorter experience, more compact, typically more flashy in their presentation. But Strange Tourist is not flashy. It plays exactly as a novel might read.
Because of this, every story brings you into the world of the current character. You can imagine how they think outside of the presented narrative, how they might operate in day to day life. You can imagine the environment they inhabit. All of these stories are grounded in reality, using experiences and emotions many are familiar with, none of which are pleasant ones. Images of poverty, jealousy, cynicism, callus disregard for others. Mixed with the ambiguity of aspects of the story, whether it be moments in the character’s narrative that are briefly touched upon, or the abrupt beginning and ending of the narratives themselves, the stories within this album almost feel too close to home. One might be able to imagine themselves in the character’s situations, fitting themselves into the ambiguous aspects of the story to fill in the missing pieces. Many might do so because they have indeed lived similar experiences. A bleak reminder that everyone has their own personal hell, but they may be more united in sorrow than one may realize.
It’s this personal nature that I feel truly makes this album. Liddiard’s extreme prowess in songwriting brings together some of the most vivid songwriting I’ve heard in a long time. His other efforts with Tropical *** Storm and The Drones are still fantastic and remarkable in their own right, but Strange Tourist is something special. Once again, I somewhat hesitate to rate it a 5, as I know I hold a bias towards Liddiard and his songwriting. I also understand that this album may drag at points for some. Maybe it’s not as enthralling for those who don’t find books as enjoyable, or some that may not find themselves interested in more realistic and depressive narratives. It is not for everyone, but in my eyes, it is a masterpiece.
