The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Reguarding, Ms. Leading
Rating
RIYL
The Mars VoltaDeVotchKa
Cursive
The Receiving End of Sirens
Thrice
Label
Triple CrownTracklist
1. The Death and the Birth2. The Procession
3. The Lake and the River
4. The Oracles on the Delphi Express
5. The Church and The Dime
6. The Bitter Suite 1 and 2: Meeting Ms. Leading and Through the Dime
7. The Bitter Suite 3: Embrace
8. Smiling Swine
9. Evicted
10. Blood of the Rose
11. Red Hands
12. Where the Road Parts
13. Dear Ms. Leading
14. Black Sandy Beaches
15. Vital Vessals Vindicate
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Last year, ex The Receiving End of Sirens vocalist Casey Crescenzo’s new band, The Dear Hunter, released their debut album, Act I: The Lake South, The River North, which was commonly referred to as an EP despite being nearly 40 minutes in length. Any confusion regarding this puzzling label, however, is washed away when listening to their follow-up, Act II; The Meaning of, And All Things Reguarding Ms. Leading, a behemoth of eclectic new-wave progressive rock that clocks in at roughly seventy minutes over fifteen tracks and reminds us that the relatively new group is nothing if not ambitious.
Fortunately, they also possess the technical dexterity and songwriting chops to back up their lofty aspirations, sculpting one beautiful song after another like a troupe of pop-music Michelangelos chipping away with strings, percussion, woodwinds, brass, and vocals at the block of marble in which their musical creations sleep. Such intense instrumental variety spawns a deeply diverse track list in which each piece captures its own unique tone and rhythm without straying from the cohesive whole. Supplementing said consistency are (mostly) smooth transitions and constant thematic elements, like the small backup chorus which often accompanies Crescenzo’s heartfelt crooning.
But, in my excitement, I’ve run ahead, and in doing so have neglected the tracks themselves. Act II begins with “The Death and the Berth,” a short intro that blazes forth in a gust of horns and theatrically floods into space-rock anthem “The Procession,” which flaunts dense arrangements of rock organ, angelic chimes, and distorted guitar. Ending on the brief echo of shoes singing on gravel, it then strides into the album’s first stylistic peak: “The Lake and the River,” a nine and a half minute tour-de-force, is a song so massive and varied that it defies description.
Lyrically, Act II continues the mysterious saga set in motion by their EP. Its nameless protagonist leaves “the land of the river and the lake” after the death of quirkily named character, Ms. Terri, whose matriarchal role is “filled” by the alluring and duplicitous Ms. Leading. This may seem a contrived conceptualization, but the writing is subtle and poetic, rewarding the intrepid listener without impeding a casual fan’s progress through the album. For example, in “The Bitter Suite,” a three-part opus on uncharted sexual intimacy, Crescenzo’s soulful voice paints a richly symbolic portrait: “The fire inside was all light, and she bloomed / and I never knew life could ever be this good / the distant sighs, the clothes on the floor / the bedding a mess, she sings for more.” And then, revisiting the opening lines, “She had the summer's smile with winter's skin / and all along, with words beyond me, she welcomed me in.”
Every track can be similarly fawned over but, as is true regarding all great artistic endeavors, there are a few exceptions to my adulation that cause Act II to narrowly fall short of five-star perfection. On the topic of lyrics, most are as well-written as the previously quoted batch, but occasionally things fall into comfortable clichés. “Red Hands,” for instance, suffers from the following bit of melodrama: “I was pulling out my heart so I could pin it on my sleeve.” This misstep, however, is small and fails to derail the song’s other exhilarating elements.
Another slightly more conspicuous issue pertains to the album’s sleek tempo being sporadically disrupted by an awkward transition or two, such as the first half of track eight, “Smiling Swine.” This song, though as good as any on the album, emits a distinct dance-rock vibe that feels a tad incongruous with its harmonious surroundings. Bluntly put, it sometimes feels as though members of The Dear Hunter have a surplus of ideas without the space to accommodate them all, but cannot bear to let any fail… and, thankfully, hardly any do.
Thus, devotion to the creative process proves an invaluable asset; most of the ideas put forth by this LP are tremendous, and my complaints minor in comparison. The Dear Hunter achieve a musical rarity with Act II; The Meaning of, And All Things Reguarding Ms. Leading, a progressive rock chef d'oeuvre capable of captivating casual and hardcore audiences alike via fluid instrumental complexity, structural experimentation, and beguiling pop sensibilities. But, above all, it’s one of those seldom stumbled upon records that will keep you coming back indefinitely as even its low points grow more enjoyable with every listen. In fact, it’s these imperfections that pull the listener ever closer; a wordless whisper, creative and sincere, beckoning to an equally flawed new friend, “Approach with patient ears, so that I might set your mind ablaze.”
--Scott Miller
Comments
New Jersey
when i see it in your eyes
i just want to go blind
Austin
The Daily Galaxy
An elephant that never forgets...to kill!
Oklahoma
On a happier note, the album art is fantastic.
The Murder Mitten
Mother Nature is a hateful whore.
Tuscaloosa, AL
PA
Music Blog.
Depths blog. (my band)
Bedford, OH
Such a good cd.
rasta
Raleigh, NC
good lord.
amazing.
even sober, but high?
wow.
josh.hofer
corruptedlens.net
twitter.com/josh_hofer
flickr.com/corruptedlens
about.me/josh.hofer
"These are our lives, but did they ever even matter - are we worth remembering?"
- "Tip The Scales"
Rise Against
SL, UT
Trollin' with my homies.
El Paso, TX
Yeah, thanks guys! I just ordered their previous release and I'll buy this one soon. One of the most intriguing things I've ever heard...
NH
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
Oklahoma
Scott = awake_and_avenge.
Los Angeles
postrockpaperscissors
Sacramento, CA
and scott, i DO in fact dub the watermark voice into my freshly-minted actual copy. shit sucks. it's going to forever be there when there's an interlude.
that's probably my biggest complaint about this album: i will always hear that woman's fucking voice. at least most of you won't ever have to deal with that.
I'm not here to make things better; only to observe and pass judgement.
"These are our lives, but did they ever even matter - are we worth remembering?"
- "Tip The Scales"
Rise Against
AZ
www.myspace.com/arcoftheaurora
Los Angeles
postrockpaperscissors
Tucson, AZ
Yeah, I was a bit surprised by that one. I just came back from being out of town and this was a pleasant surprise. Thanks everyone, and I'm glad so many people are enjoying this album.