A LOVE OF SHARED DISASTERS

3.5 stars. This is the debut album from this band released in 2007. I noticed they've released a dozen studio albums over their careers including a new one this year(2022). I have their first four and I feel that the companion records "The Resurrectionists" and "Night Raider" both from 2009 are the best by far of those four. The debut here is 77 minutes long and it's like they tried to squish all their ideas into this one album. I would still say they are a Post-Rock, Psychedelic, Folk band overall but too many misses for me to go 4 stars.

A six piece but with many guests so each track has pretty much a different lineup from 4 to 9 performers. We get plenty of samples which are cool but man so much sad music on this one with "When Your Gone" maybe being the toughest one of those to get through. We get the funny "The Northern Cobbler" with that thick accent as he talks about marrying his sister then getting into the drink and so on. Reminds me of that WIGWAM song "Pride Of The Biosphere" or Roger Waters "Small Furry Animals..." song. I skip it unlike those two. "Long Cold Summer" is something I've never experienced here in Canada. Always short and hot but this song is a favourite. Post Rock guitars, vocals then it turns trippy.

That opener is tough with that choir with the deep slow vocals and samples to open. Harmonium too in this lament. "Suppose I Told The Truth" is like a relaxed pop song. My overall favourite might be the closer "Sharks & Storms/ Blizzard Of Horned Cats". Some emotion in this one and it's been interesting because I've given this at least 3 pre-spins before I decided to spend time with it this week and each of those pre-spins had me having a different opinion of this long recording. In the end 3.5 stars seems generous and this certainly has it's moments. Such a talented band but I find "A Love Of Shared Disasters" to be hit and miss.