Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor
Have you ever had a moment where you question where you have been for the past 4-5 years? I did, the other day when after seeing the name Patrick Wolf pop up on blogs that I follow I finally looked him up. I gave an immediate “WTF Shana!” to myself. How dumb was I to not grab up his music so long ago?
Patrick Wolf is a brilliant musician who’s music is is so hard to place in one specific genre. He jumps from one genre to the next, one song sounding folk-pop the next sounding industial and the next sounding like a prayer put to a gypsy beat. He uses Northern European instruments like viola, violin, harpsychord and accordian that give his music this otherworld-like sound. I can only compare him slightly by saying if you like the vast genres that are covered by say Radiohead or Bjork that you will most likely enjoy his style as well. His songs cover subjects of self, nature, supernatural and do so on this magical level that grab you by the heart and pull you in beat by beat. I imagine gypsies whirling dirvish to some of his songs and can see little goth kids do the speaker box dance to others. I love every second but if you need to take a listen to just one or two songs off this album “Oblivion” with Tilda Swinson narrating just gives me chills and album title “Bachelor” make me feel Patrick’s heart is worn on his sleeve. Take a listen, tell me what you think!
Five out of five big Blue Morpho Butterflies for this hidden gem!!!
Filed under: beats | Tagged: accordian, beats, electronica, folk, gypsy, music, northern european, patrick wolf, pop, pop-folk, vast genres, viola, violin | 5 Comments »
Regina Spektor’s 5th album but only the 2nd studio produced album, you will notice more than just her and her piano. From hearing less produced albums by her, I have to say that the studio produced albums tend to feel like they take away a little of Regina’s quirky strange personality that is highly infused into her earlier music. Don’t get me wrong, I still love this album. I am fully sold on Regina and her sound. This Russian-American brings songs where she gives us a “Dolphin song” (Folding Chairs) and sings about a lost wallet (Wallet). The album goes in many directions but the songs are blunt expressions of Regina telling it like she sees it. Those views sometimes are strange allusions to religion, Blue Lips has Adam & Eve taking blame for this mess we’ve gotten into “They started out beneath the knowledge tree. Then they chopped it down to make white picket fences” and Laughing With gives honest perspectives “No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes”. She takes us to her world, story telling songs that remind us of science fiction (Machines) and fables (Genius Next Door). It took a few listens for me to warm to some of the songs. The songs seem a little radio friendly and over produced, but you find her goofy personality sandwiched between the stuff shirts and realize that it’s a natural progression for an artist and trust that she will work out the kinks in working with a label in a studio. I give this 4 out of 5 butterflies.
Butterflies, Books, Beats & Baubles 