Here’s a piece about Bowerbirds’ song “In Our Talons” from its album Hymns for a Dark Horse for NPR’s Song of the Day. Check out the song here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYYxSe-33b4
‘In Our Talons,’ a Homemade Gem’
‘In Our Talons’ by Bowerbirds (from Hymns for a Dark Horse)
While some artists adopt a lo-fidelity, do-it-yourself vibe, Bowerbirds’ members seem to embody it completely. Living in the North Carolina country in an old Airstream trailer, Phil Moore, Beth Tacular and Mark Paulson seem perfectly suited to strumming songs about crippled trees and sparrows. The band, whose members work as full-time artists, furniture makers and waiters, possesses a rustic, back-to-basics sound that shows Bowerbirds’ attraction to the handcrafted and antiquated. It’s not surprising that the microphones used on the album were all homemade.
With streaks of violins, clacking percussion and an out-of-tune parlor piano, Hymns for a Dark Horse paints an idealized portrait of Bowerbirds’ pastoral lifestyle. The band deftly mixes intricate craftsmanship and spontaneity, coupling tender melodicism with discordant vocal lines and backwoods experimentation.
In the outstanding “In Our Talons,” Moore bleeds out his emotions while appreciating the subtle beauty of nature. The pumping accordion and creaky guitars feel as fragile as the bending branches and creeping beetles he carefully describes. But as Bowerbirds’ message becomes plainer — “It takes a lot of nerves to destroy this wondrous earth / We’re only human, this at least we’ve learned” — the song morphs into a more straightforward lament. As the group acknowledges that everyone and everything is connected, “In Our Talons” starts to feel slightly naive. And yet in its simple, joyous melodies, the song’s overarching sincerity feels strangely comforting.
This is probably my favorite track on the album. I think the other ones get that outdoors laid back sound down, just leave a little to be desired. Although it would be something to listen to on a melancholy hot summers day out on a front stoop lamenting about how I couldnt get tickets to some concert because ticketmaster sucks and all of the seats are gathered up by scalpers.. Oh woe is me…
I sort of have to disagree… if you spend more time with this record I hope you find that it is pretty fully realized for a debut album. Great tunes and melodies and even better moods that they invoke. Give it a few more listens on the ol pod and I think you will grow to love this. That or youre full of shit. Put down the Andrew Bird and Arcade Fire for a few weeks. It’ll do you good. ;) hahhaha
OOooh .. good one. And I may be full of shit. I think the jury is still out on that one.
mwahhahahahhaahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha
sigh.
Do you ever read the reader comments on sites like Stereogum or AV Club? I like that even on the quote\unquote ‘highbrow’ sites, the talkbacks always diminish, sinking to the lows of Aint it Cool News slam fests.
The following is chronological re-imagining of most talkback comment threads:
1) this (band, movie, song) sucks
2) no YOU suck
3) this story about (movie, band etc) is pointless…we already know this stuff.
4) this is the best (band, movie, tv show, news story) EVER.
5) your standards must be pretty low you plebian asschop.
6) here is an attempt to have intellectual discussion
7) smart people suck.
8) why do these threads always turn into this? if you dont like this (band, movie, etc) why do you come here to be a hater?
9) you suck for asking questions and liking anything listed above.
10) im never coming back to this site.
I think you hit it on the head, you good for nothing bastard!
Other favourites from this record are “My Oldest Memory,” “Human Hands” and “Hooves.” This is growing to be one of my favs from this year.