Customer Reviews

Marionette & The Music Box (W/Book) (Dlx)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I have alot of respect for Unwed Sailor. Maybe I expected to much. Its just that this alblum lacks some much needed dynamics. The idea behind the record is solid, and at times you may feel involved in the story. I would have to say that Dave Basan was much needed, but did not play on the CD. I recommend any of there earlier stuff or 'Explosions in the Sky'.

This album is a bit of a break from their previous work: instead of the lush, standard-length songs, this album is comprised primarily of short, stark little vignettes. Interesting, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I first heard of Unwed Sailor by listening to Pedro the Lion and hearing of David Bazan's side project. After hearing some samples via iPod services, I realized how much I enjoyed the soft instrumental and the lush landscapes that the CD created. This proved to be the soundtrack to my summer. The highlights of the CD are The Windmill's Tale of the Music Box Floats Through the Air, Riding the Windmill and the closer, Jubilee. All in all, a very well put together CD.

wow, that's the only thing i can say about this unwed salior cd. i read some of the other reviews on amazon and i must say i was a little nervous about what i was getting, little did i know i was going to be blown away. there is a lot of peaceful music on here each track blends into the next weaving a completely wonderful experience. i really enjoy tracks 3 and 17. i must say i was expecting at least a little in the way of drums, however even with out them this cd is truly remarkable. Mogwai is perhaps my favorite band and i'd have to say this cd blows their new one "happy music for happy people" away, clean out of the water. well done guys, i saw you at cornerstone about 4 years ago but nothing could have prepaired me for this. 5 out of 5. Get this if you are tired of your run of the mill indie, emo records, it's awesome!!!!!!

I think it hit me as I was driving home from work a few months ago. My job had this "special meeting" where two insecure women gave us several lectures on the acceptance of diversity in my college campus and the stereotypes that need to be broken. Don't get me wrong, these are important issues, but they were presented in such a watered-down, worthless manner that I actually felt more uneasy afterwards than before. Everything they said, everyone around me, every thought in my mind, it all felt so fake. I needed something real. I needed purity.

Needing to relax, I popped in Unwed Sailor's The Marionette and the Music Box, a CD I had been struggling with for quite some time. I had hated it upon first listen, with its quiet and subtle nature. I had been a big fan of The Faihtful Anchor, Sailor's previous full-length, and wanted more of the energy found in that album. All Marionette had to offer was the light picking of guitars, blowing of flutes, and mostly-absence of drums (an aspect I loved in Faithful Anchor, thanks to Matt Johnson's ingenious techniques). Frankly bored and uninterested, I stored Marionette away and thought I'd give it a month or two before I listened to it again. I wanted to destroy the expectations I had and give Johnathon Ford a chance. I mean, bands can reinvent themselves, and to do so after a brilliant album like Faithful Anchor would take more guts than could ever have.

Driving through downtown Indianapolis that day I realized something. Unwed Sailor, no matter what they sound like, will always have something not many bands (or people for that matter) possess: Purity. You can hear it in the sound of every instrument played, in the little touches Ford adds (playing "Amazing Grace" near the end is masterstroke), and especially in the brilliant idea of including a beautifully drawn story to match the music, ala "Peter and the Wolf." To truly enjoy Marionette, one needs to incorporate the tale into their 30-minute listen. The deceivingly simple melodies take new form when you realize each instrument symbolizes a character or mood. When those strings come in near the end of Marionette, you will be weeping in joy, trust me.

Let's here it for purity! In a world full of blemish and mediocrity, Johnathon Ford is no fake, which is reason enough to purchase The Marionette and the Music Box.

Absolutely stunning. Peaceful and gorgeous. I have not listened to this enough to give any technical critique, but my first impressions are extremely positive. The in-sleeve artwork is wonderful and well rendered. My one criticism is that the in-sleeve is just placed in a three panel case lacking any method of keeping it from falling out. A frustration I've had with a lot of these bands; great concepts in packaging, without thinking through function. June of 44, for example had great packaging that was detrimental to the cd itself. Shellac's 'At Action Park' is an example of a great way around that issue, by placing the cd in a cloth sleeve. Sorry, a bit of a tangent, but something I notice as an artist. Great ideas in packaging almost perfectly realized. However, more importantly, this is intelligent music beautifully realized and soundly executed