Customer Reviews

Last Man on Earth

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Anyone remotely intrigued by the darker elements of feathermerchants' last two releases, "Unarmed Against the Dark", and "Street Theater", will be knocked out by "Last Man on Earth". Gone are the occasional upbeat, even danceable tunes like "Temporary", "Heartbreak Beat", and "Best Regards", in favor of songs in the heavier vein of "Ursuline" and "Farmers Night Out". (O.k., I suppose you could waltz to "Hitchcock Blonde" but it would be more than a little weird.) Songwriters Pete Veru and Shannon Kennedy have crafted unresolved short stories of longing, self-doubt, regret, anger, paranoia, and panic. Kennedy plays each part perfectly, her vocals layered over the always excellent feathermerchants rhythms and arrangements, highlighted by Jim Chapdelaine's spacy, ambient, and pervasive Robert Fripp-like guitar work, a new touch that truly sets this album apart from the group's earlier titles. This is one of those increasingly rare records that I can play without reaching for the remote control to skip a track here or there. Whether I'm trying to find some new insight into the fate of the songs' protagonists or just wanting to hear some quality, unique music that's literate *and* has a decent hook, this one's been in very heavy rotation at home, in the car, and at work. Good thing it's not vinyl, or I'd need a new copy already.

I HEARD THEM PLAY AT THE NY PUBLIC THEATRE IN THE SPRING OF 2006 - AND THEY ARE LOVELY! I HAVE TWO OF THEIR CDS AND LOVE, LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!