The Antlers
Hospice


5.0
classic

Review

by mike197 USER (12 Reviews)
October 28th, 2013 | 20 replies


Release Date: 2009 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Utterly wrenching, this album has to be heard to be understood.

Concept albums are a tricky business. They can be pompous and overdone, with ridiculous plotlines and music to boot. They can be stuck on last-second by a band grasping for the progressive music fans. They can be well-meaning but forced, with awkward narratives (I'm looking at you Roger Waters-The Final Cut) that make it a slog. And they can be downright unattractive, with a seeming majority being mediocre or terrible.

But when it works, it's something else entirely. Dark Side of the Moon, OK Computer; albums that hit you hard emotionally in just the right spot. Then you have Hospice. The proud work of Pete Silberman locking himself in a room for 2 years, this album tells the story of a hospice employee falling in love with a terminally ill patient he is taking care of. The story progresses from the haunting meeting in Kettering to the emotional turmoil of Silvia; the trauma of Bear and the back story and culmination of fate in Two. The music on the album is thematically linked by a sort of ambience, with a couple of previously mentioned tracks (Bear and Two) leaning towards the Indie pop sound. This gives the album an injection of catchiness, and even though it's a cohesive concept album, all of the songs can be listened to on their own (though not understood fully).

Listening to the album all the way through is an experience of its own. Every moment hangs on you, and not one sound on the album is wasted. Silberman's voice is an emotional roller-coaster, soft and dripping with something extra. There's an undercurrent to this album. Every time you listen to it, you'll discover something new. Underneath the story lies a metaphor, so aching and honest that it hurts just to listen to. Unravelling the mysteries of this album is rewarding but not altogether challenging; it's addictive. Hospice will stand the test of time. It'll break your heart with it's sound, and then it'll break it again with the story. And it'll hopefully become regarded as an all time great, as it rightfully deserves. A true classic.



Recent reviews by this author
Jeff Buckley Sketches for My Sweetheart the DrunkRadiohead Kid A
Elliott Smith Either/OrU2 The Joshua Tree
Mark Everett Bad Dude In LoveThe Microphones The Glow Pt. 2
user ratings (1861)
4.2
excellent
other reviews of this album
1 of


Comments:Add a Comment 
tommygun
October 28th 2013


27108 Comments


another sweet review man, pos

just a heads up it's kind of considered bad form to post a bunch of reviews at once here cos it pushes
others off the front page

usually best to wait for your most recent to be gone before posting another

it's not a 'rule' or anything but people can get thingy about it

mike197
October 28th 2013


190 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Ah well I only get to use the internet occasionally so I try to pack in as many as I can before the next time. I know it looks kinda bad I'll get it sorted out eventually.



This is one hell of an album. I don't think I really captured how I feel about this album...

Storm In A Teacup
October 28th 2013


45689 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Excellent! It's about that time of year where this album gets much more play from me.

tommygun
October 28th 2013


27108 Comments


no worries man, not having a go cos i really don't care, just giving you a heads up in case someone
gets in your ear about it :]

still haven't got round to listening to this, must fix that

mike197
October 28th 2013


190 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Cheers man haha and this is a really amazing one. Worth buying. I mean it when I say it's one of the greatest albums ever.

InfamousGrouse
October 28th 2013


4378 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

haven't played this record in like 2 years damn

mryrtmrnfoxxxy
October 28th 2013


16605 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

burst is b8r

Storm In A Teacup
October 29th 2013


45689 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

There's no ate in better Cole, and you know this!

avonbarksdale221
October 29th 2013


8298 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

You'd love this I'd say Tommy, it's like an indie rock version of For Emma. Silberman has amazing pipes as well.

Storm In A Teacup
October 29th 2013


45689 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

damn i already love this and you blew my mind

larrytheslug
October 29th 2013


1587 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

beautiful

tommygun
October 29th 2013


27108 Comments


thanks avon brother will check

also a larry 5 yea need

tommygun
October 29th 2013


27108 Comments


ye this is reasonably tight

Storm In A Teacup
October 29th 2013


45689 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Seriously though this is incredibly enormously epic on such a minimalistic scale.

avonbarksdale221
October 29th 2013


8298 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

The ambient parts really accentuate the huge choruses.



Two - Shiva - Wake - Epilogue fuck me I can't even handle all of the feels

Storm In A Teacup
October 29th 2013


45689 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

bro we share the same problem

avonbarksdale221
October 29th 2013


8298 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Only problem with this is that its just too damn depressing. I haven't jammed in a year because it will invariably end up with me feeling like complete shit. Its amazing that it can have such a profound effect on me, just sucks that I'm never in the mood to jam something so brilliant. When I'm in that mood though, HOLY SHIT. Few albums can compare.

Storm In A Teacup
October 29th 2013


45689 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

yuppers that's why I listen during Christmas time. somber yet happy time for reflection which is perfect for this.

avonbarksdale221
October 29th 2013


8298 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I'm from Aus so that would be the worst time to play it, definitely an album best suited for lonely winter nights.

Storm In A Teacup
October 29th 2013


45689 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Yeah I'm right in the middle of the United States lol



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy