Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Imagining oneself to be a wolf never sounded this good!, June 4, 2004
I can't believe I'm the first one to review this album! It's a crying shame more people have not heard this music or were not affected enough by it to take the time to say something to help spread the word about this album, as I certainly was. It's somewhat difficult to describe Wolf's unique sound, but try to imagine accordion, various string and wind instruments, ukelele, and other relatively traditional acoustic instruments being backed by some serious electronic beats and you'll have a fair impression of what you're in for. It may sound weird at first, but the union of such seemingly polar opposite sounds combined with Wolf's highly touching lyrics written between age 11 and 18 (!) and based on personal experiences works surprisingly well and provides for an original style of music unlike any I've heard to date (which is not to imply that there isn't already someone doing something similar, but simply that I haven't heard it yet). Wolf's singing voice and thick accent also help give the music an even more unique tone. I wish I could compare Wolf to other artists to help provide a point of reference, and I wish amazon would put up some samples for people to hear, but trust me, the risk in buying this album without hearing any of it beforehand (as I did) is well worth taking, and who knows, maybe the experience of listening to it will make you into a lycanthrope.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gypsy Rock in the Enchanted Jazz Lounge, September 29, 2004
Patrick Wolf kind of looks like a run-away gypsy on the album cover. And I think that fits him perfectly. Wolf's debut album, Lycanthropy, certainly manifests such a fantastic image ...
Combining acoustic instruments with hints of electronica and his darringly deep voice, Patrick sings about the mental safe havens that we create for else and the constant transformations a person goes through. Stuck somewhere between child and adult, boy and wolf, tranquility and disruption, Patrick's ballads are awe-inspiring and almost spiritual. He calls out for the protection and spritual guidance of the wolves in "Wolf Song", escapes violent raids on his home in "To the Lighthouse", confronts a child molester in "The Childcatcher" and even equalizes the two genders in "Lycanthropy". Patrick is not your typical annoyingly love-sick singer/songwriter, but a masterful bard who documents his own personal journeys and transformations in the guise of werewolves and other childhood fantasies.
The music is again, nontraditional - sounds like a bunch of gyspies congregated with earthy fiddles, accordians and ukeles while allowing Bjork to mix it all up with some amazing back beats and vibes. The song "Bloodbeat" is a perfect example of the multiplicity of the album - while one can hear the dark tones of the lyrics and appreciate the acoustics, the mixing make it almost perfect for a hippie danceclub. If you are a fan of folk music, you'll appreciate the variety of instruments and the complexity of Patrick's lyrics.
I guess this is another gold star for the U.K.. If you're a fan of such underestimated British Bands like The Auteurs and Black Box Recorder, then you'll love this album.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Album of '04...so far., June 17, 2004
By A Customer
Finding this album, was probably the best find of music I have made, since getting into the independent music scene. The previous reviewer could not put into words what type of music Patrick Wolf is producing, and I don't think I could do that either, but I can try and give you all an idea.Patrick wolf implements electronics with organic instruments such as violin and ukelele, and pulls it off perfectly. If there was one artist I would compare him to, is Bjork, sounding similar to Bjork in the fact(s) that he has a very strong voice, and makes sounds uncommon to the human ear that sound very musical. Buy this album. It doesn't get much better than this.
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Patrick Wolf 
