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indie-snob>+!#
the ugly organ by cursive
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9 I think Kasher has created a wonderful album with the Ugly Organ, a brilliant concept piece of art vs. commercialism. Perhaps Cursive fans were a little let down with Domestica, an album created shortly after Kasher's bitter divorce. However, I for one was given hope with the Burst and Bloom EP, an album for the first time involving the cellist Gretta Cohn. Kasher may sound like a bitter, angst filled teen, but it actually goes far beyond this. The two bands Kasher fronts (Cursive and The Good Life), both are filled with songs of loss and anger. Where does it all come from inside that lanky indie exterior? The single, "Art is Hard," perhaps gives some insight to this. Giving a not-so-vague analogy to his forced anger to entertain the masses of depressed indie children who are his fans. "Cut it out- your self-inflicted pain / is getting too routine / the crowds are catching on / to the self-inflicted song," "Fall in love to fail / to boost your CD sales." It goes on. It goes on with rhythmic guitars and the most honest vocals of Tim Kasher's career with Cursive. Surprisingly, though, the album does not remain bitter the entire extent. In "The Recluse," Kasher is bitter about different things. He actually sings about his depressing moments of waking up in unknown women's beds. Ahhh, single-life is getting to Kasher, married-life got to Kasher, what can this sad, sad man do? The middle-part of the album holds nothing very special to me musically, just solid, good songs. "Butcher the Song" is a nice little piece with beautiful cello and a bit of organ. "A Gentleman Caller" is a song more reminiscent of earlier Cursive work, with screaming vocals and pounding guitars. The end of the album holds what I feel are the best songs. Both "Bloody Murderer" and "Sierra" feature guest backing vocals by, again, Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley (not that I could even point them out). The background on "Bloody Murderer" holds this eerie, perhaps frightening aura that Cursive also has live. "Sierra" is just such a quality, wonderful song, full of crescendos, strong vocals, depressing cello, and pounding drums and strumming guitars. But the song goes so much deeper into Kasher's life, where he pleads for the life he had once with his wife before they moved to Portland and destroyed their relationship. He wants to be the one to kiss his daughter goodnight, he wants to be in that apartment with her. It's at that point where no matter what Kasher could say or do, you love him so much, because he's so sad but obviously such a wonderful man. It doesn't even matter that the finale, "Staying Alive," is a brillant 10 minute epic closer with a chorus that will haunt your dreams for months to come. Another wonderful album for 2003. Kasher has done well with the band. Highly recommended with 9/10 Remember the stuff behind this? Did you see the reviews before this? ARE YOU JUST NOT SURE? Why don't you go back and check it out... for me?
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