Review Summary: Phil shows us who he is and what he can do
Visually, Microphone 2020 is a very powerful sonic experience that is both for the ears, and the eyes. Powerful is a word that can mean many different things depending on context. The album follows singer and writer Phil Elverum. Elverum is a mysterious figure who spends his time in the woods, in old houses, saunas, and digging up plants for coffee and stuff. He has virtually no money and is very much a poor man who relies on the land around him for refuge and resources.
Phil used to be married to actress Michelle Williams for a year and she wanted him to make more haunting folk music, so she deprived him of any money whatsoever. In a rage, he quit music for a short period and decided he would focus on the music. He divorced Williams and decided he didn't need that celebrity flair anymore. He wanted the simple life. With Michelle out of the picture, yet offering him plenty of (acting) inspiration, he went on to make The Microphones of 2020.
Make sure to watch the film that goes along with this album, for the full experience. Most likely you will not get what this album is about unless the film goes with it. Once you get the music going, along with the film (which includes clips of Phil and trees and pictures), an emotional rollercoaster of a man who has put his life out there for us to see washes over you. It's actually really great. A long and interesting folk song with lush parts and moments of cool guitar.
The reason I had to give this album a low rating is because the day I listened to it in my car, I ran out of gas. Had to have a tow truck pick me up and I was out in the rain for over an hour. My phone was dead and ended up needing to use the truck driver's phone. His was at 15% so it ended up working for a bit. He nearly hit the curb on the way out of Hamburger Station, which I should add only he was allowed to get food from (even though I offered to pay). Anyways, he ended up spilling his ash tray on my news shoes and pants. All of this happening while Microphones 2020 played impatiently in the background. So even though I watched the video after with the song I kept thinking about that terrible day with the tow truck driver.
