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Editorial Reviews
Young Dubliner Conor J. O'Brien or as he likes to call himself, Villagers, is the mastermind behind the 11 varied, subtle, complex and plain gorgeous songs that are Becoming A Jackal. Conor played all the instruments (except strings and french horn) and Becoming A Jackal was recorded in Villagers home studio, with Tommy McLaughlin engineering and co-producing alongside Conor. Becoming A Jackal is a startling intro to the gripping poetry and melodic depth of Conor J. O'Brien.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Listening to BBC's great Radio 6 over the past week a song came on which was clearly an outright classic; a lost gem perhaps from Paddy McAloon, a new song from Andrew Bird or a neglected find from the vault of the late great Elliot Smith? As it turns out the song was "Becoming A Jackal" from Dublin songwriter Conor J O'Brien who records under the name of Villagers and whose band has recently supported those cherished dilettante's from Kendal - The Wild Beasts. As we speak this wonderful debut album sits on top of the Irish album music chart proving yet again the impeccable musical taste of our chums in the Emerald Isle.
Becoming a Jackal is an album bursting with O'Briens' vivid narratives, gripping poetry and melodic depth. As a debut album it oozes such confidence that O'Brien could claim this has his fifth album and not a single eyebrow would be raised. True the album gets off to a rather strange start with opener "I saw the dead" which is an ever so Gothic rolling piano ballad but which grows on repeated listened. It is followed by the already mentioned gem of a title track and other little jewels quickly follow not least the incredibly strong set of songs that compose the middle part of the album. The "Meaning of ritual" stars with a slow organ which reminds me of a James Yorkston song and builds into a delicate confessional ballad which really exposes the complete shallowness of the work of those other pretenders the Morrison's, the Merriweather's and the horrible Nutini. The pounding drums on "Home" and the tinkling piano is a tremendous foundation for one of O'Brien's best vocals and strongest set of lyrics evoking a narrative full of what Danny Carroll has noted to be "an evocative world of snakes, saints, and carnivorous scavengers". "The Pact"(I'll be your fever) is more upbeat and jaunty but brilliantly done and will surely be a live favourite, while "That day" is a completely assured pop ballad with Paul McCartney like feel and no doubt the masters inspiration has played a part. Along with "Becoming a Jackal" the other outstanding highlight is "Set the tigers free". Anyone that can can evoke the god like genius of Prefab Sprout's "Steve McQueen" era must have something going for them and the version on here ticks over beautifully in a melodic grove which has distant echoes of both "Moving the River" and "When the angels" from McAloon's masterwork. Check out in addition the equally strong version on BBC 6 sessions.
This is one of those albums which probably demands your individual attention rather than to be played collectively. It is gentle, evocative, crystalline and passionate and could happily be delivered from the corner of a smoky bar (if it wasn't banned of course). The Irish press have openly speculated that O'Brien in musical terms might just be another "anointed one" like Damien Rice who can take the wider world by storm and build on the already massively impressive musical pedigree of artists from the Ireland. The evidence for such a claim is overwhelmingly set out in "Becoming a Jackal" and it is for you as the musical jury to determine the fate of this brilliant debut.
Becoming a Jackal is an album bursting with O'Briens' vivid narratives, gripping poetry and melodic depth. As a debut album it oozes such confidence that O'Brien could claim this has his fifth album and not a single eyebrow would be raised. True the album gets off to a rather strange start with opener "I saw the dead" which is an ever so Gothic rolling piano ballad but which grows on repeated listened. It is followed by the already mentioned gem of a title track and other little jewels quickly follow not least the incredibly strong set of songs that compose the middle part of the album. The "Meaning of ritual" stars with a slow organ which reminds me of a James Yorkston song and builds into a delicate confessional ballad which really exposes the complete shallowness of the work of those other pretenders the Morrison's, the Merriweather's and the horrible Nutini. The pounding drums on "Home" and the tinkling piano is a tremendous foundation for one of O'Brien's best vocals and strongest set of lyrics evoking a narrative full of what Danny Carroll has noted to be "an evocative world of snakes, saints, and carnivorous scavengers". "The Pact"(I'll be your fever) is more upbeat and jaunty but brilliantly done and will surely be a live favourite, while "That day" is a completely assured pop ballad with Paul McCartney like feel and no doubt the masters inspiration has played a part. Along with "Becoming a Jackal" the other outstanding highlight is "Set the tigers free". Anyone that can can evoke the god like genius of Prefab Sprout's "Steve McQueen" era must have something going for them and the version on here ticks over beautifully in a melodic grove which has distant echoes of both "Moving the River" and "When the angels" from McAloon's masterwork. Check out in addition the equally strong version on BBC 6 sessions.
This is one of those albums which probably demands your individual attention rather than to be played collectively. It is gentle, evocative, crystalline and passionate and could happily be delivered from the corner of a smoky bar (if it wasn't banned of course). The Irish press have openly speculated that O'Brien in musical terms might just be another "anointed one" like Damien Rice who can take the wider world by storm and build on the already massively impressive musical pedigree of artists from the Ireland. The evidence for such a claim is overwhelmingly set out in "Becoming a Jackal" and it is for you as the musical jury to determine the fate of this brilliant debut.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"Becoming a jackal" is the debut CD by Irish Indie band Villagers (centered about lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Conor J O'Brien). It was recently nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in the UK. The album comprises 11 tracks of stealthy delicate beauty recalling acts like Conor Oberst, Elbow or even Pete Doherty (whom O'Brien reminds me of vocally); light airy piano/guitar/banjo/string-swathed songs rich in melody and literate lyrics.
"I saw the dead" opens the album in style, a creepy ballad with nice swirling piano sounds which builds and builds until ending with the sound of a needle falling off a record (for those who remember those). The title track is a melodic Folky piece, while the choppy upbeat "Ship of promises" features tumbling guitar sounds. "It takes you in and scrubs you clean, sanitises every dream" go the affecting lyrics in part.
The mournful "The meaning of the ritual" is a spare organ/guitar ballad on which O'Brien declares in its opening lines "My love is selfish", while "Home" has a lovely throbbing bassline and ethereal harmonies. "That day" starts off an acoustic ballad which picks up speed, "The pact (I'll be your fever)" is bouncy and Folk/Country-tinged, while "Set the tigers free" is a beautiful lulling Jazzy guitar ballad, as is "Twenty seven strangers" (with haunting harmonies). The delicate woozy Waltz "Pieces" finds O'Brien singing in a tremulous falsetto (reminiscent of Dave Mathews) against a string-swathed backdrop with some jackal-style howls thrown in for good measure, while closing is the acoustic "To be counted among men".
Quietly affecting, truly beautiful!
"I saw the dead" opens the album in style, a creepy ballad with nice swirling piano sounds which builds and builds until ending with the sound of a needle falling off a record (for those who remember those). The title track is a melodic Folky piece, while the choppy upbeat "Ship of promises" features tumbling guitar sounds. "It takes you in and scrubs you clean, sanitises every dream" go the affecting lyrics in part.
The mournful "The meaning of the ritual" is a spare organ/guitar ballad on which O'Brien declares in its opening lines "My love is selfish", while "Home" has a lovely throbbing bassline and ethereal harmonies. "That day" starts off an acoustic ballad which picks up speed, "The pact (I'll be your fever)" is bouncy and Folk/Country-tinged, while "Set the tigers free" is a beautiful lulling Jazzy guitar ballad, as is "Twenty seven strangers" (with haunting harmonies). The delicate woozy Waltz "Pieces" finds O'Brien singing in a tremulous falsetto (reminiscent of Dave Mathews) against a string-swathed backdrop with some jackal-style howls thrown in for good measure, while closing is the acoustic "To be counted among men".
Quietly affecting, truly beautiful!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By C. Mehta
Format:Audio CD
I saw the lead singer play an acoustic set of this album in Somerville MA a few weeks ago and I absolutely loved it! I'm not usually a fan of indie, having grown up in England during the "happy hardcore" era, but I put this album on my ipod immediately and have been listening to it daily.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful
A few of these songs are admittedly "better" (that still sounds too harsh, even with the quotes) than others- but then you hit songs like the title track or "That Day" and it just... Read more
Published on December 4, 2010 by S. Moe
5.0 out of 5 stars
great cd
listen for yourself. honestly, i would have preferred an acoustic album, but it's still pretty good
Published on November 5, 2010 by M. Magsaysay
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great Irish bad!!
I stumbled upon on Youtube a video of Conor O'brian performing in Electric Picnic this year. He was singing "Becoming a Jackal" and it immediately struck a chord with me! Read more
Published on September 21, 2010 by lunanyc
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Songs, Classic Singing
Album purchased a few hours ago, album played continuously ever since. Just a classic ...
Published on July 18, 2010 by Byron Geoffrey Farrow
