The Crying Light

Antony and the Johnsons | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 20, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Secretly Canadian
• ASIN: B001MW0IY8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,607 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #62 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Chamber Pop

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A soul stirring new work with daring compositions and captivating vocals. This isn't a heart breaking; it's a heart waking." --The Oregonian

Product Description

The follow-up to "I Am A Bird Now" shifts thematic focus and explores Antony's relationship with the natural world. The intimacy of the Johnsons' sound is enveloped by avant-classical composer Nico Muhly's symphonic arrangements.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Antony does it again! January 20, 2009

By 104-9827-0000

Format:Audio CD

This is Antony's best album yet. Though I enjoy his previous albums immensely, I have had to listen to them several times before I realized the sheer genius behind them. This album, however, I fell in love with from the first listen (which was only a few hours ago as it was officially released the day of this writing). Literally every song is a masterpiece of heartbreaking and fragile beauty. The instrumentation alone is suberb and awe-inspiring. Add to that Antony's ghostly, gentle, and emotionally-charged vibrato, and what you have is an incredible work of art that is in a league totally of its own, far surpassing the stagnant and dull world of most contemporary music. The songs here transcend all categorization, including that of "happy" or "sad." They sound instead like dispatches from "another world," a world where our petty concerns are lost in an overwhelming tide of beauty and purity. Rarely does a CD provoke such feelings in me. Thank you Antony, thank you.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The strangest pain, the sweetest sadness January 22, 2009

By Storylover TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Let's start by saying that you either are going to love Antony's voice, or you are going to be seriously scared by it. If you have not heard "I Am a Bird Now" or any of his other works, then prepare to be challenged by something completely different. If you have heard "I Am a Bird Now", then prepare to be challenged by something very similar.

First, that voice--that wondrous, painful voice. I think that I love it, but I have to listen to this album and his music in general when I am in just the right frame of mind, or I can't take it. My wife can't listen to him at all. Antony sings in a high, wavery voice that comes on like a falsetto, but the more you listen to it, the less you are sure that it is a falsetto. Could this simply be the range in which he sings? Whatever the verdict there, be certain that it is one of the most oddly cultivated singing voices ever to make an impact in music that can vaguely be termed "popular". He has been compared to Nina Simone, and I sort of see it--but only based on his very mannered vibrato. He does not have a wide range, but he is very expressive with the narrow range that he has; at least, if you regard "constantly seems to be about to dissolve into tears of despair" as "very expressive".

The music skirts the border between art songs and pop music written by very pretentious people. Usually, he stays pretty firmly on the "art song" side of the line, but occasionally, the schmaltz overwhelms everything, and only your personal reaction to his voice will determine if it comes off as "bizarre genius" or "wha...???..." If you take the time to read his lyrics, they are often beautiful, confused musings on longing, becoming, love, and the lack thereof, but for me, the words are far secondary to the feeling, the emotion that is conveyed by this singer. His performance of the songs is so laden with emotion that the words are definitely less important that simply allowing yourself to be surrounded by him on all sides.

It is hard to review the songs one by one--the album is definitely a piece as a whole, but there are some standout moments. "Aeon" starts with a typically pretty piano figure with a harp backing, but then changes with the addition of an arpeggiated chord on an electric guitar. Antony seems to be the closest I have heard him to happiness as he sings "Oh Aeon! My baby boy! Oh, Aeon will take care of me". What does it mean? Who is Aeon? Is it God? As the song unfolds, I'm not sure if this is a plea for protection for himself, for someone else, or his father? Anyway, Antony backs himself in a gospel choir of emotion, soaring into an ecstasy. Pretty amazing song, I just wish I really knew what he was singing about.

"Dust and Water" has an almost Ladysmith Black Mambazo feel to it, although he sings solo. Not an easy feat to accomplish.

The final song, "Everglade", finds Antony at his most poetic. "When I'm floating in the water/And your eyes are lilies all around/When I'm lying sweetly in my bed/The sun plays crystal with my eyes", while woodwinds and strings form a lush backdrop. Beautiful, with just a drop of "over the top" to the production.

This is actually a very difficult record to review because it is so hard to separate the songs themselves from the performance. Antony is a true original (for better and for worse), and sometimes, in some moods, I love the courage and talent that he exudes. I love his heart on his sleeve approach and his wounded butterfly vibrato. But if I am not in just the right mood, that voice becomes grating, annoying, overly artificial. If you can't get past his performance, you'll never be able to appreciate his songcraft. His songs are beautiful, and it would be an interesting exercise to hear them performed by someone else, to see if someone else could draw out the same level of feeling and emotion, or if they are singable only by Antony. I'd be hard pressed to think of someone who I'd want to try this exercise--perhaps Harolyn Blackwell? Someone trained in Schumann lieder? Or someone raw like Patty Smith? I'm not sure.

If you loved his first two albums, you are going to love this. He has grown somewhat, but he has not really changed his formula. If you didn't like the previous collections, then this is not going to do anything to bring you into his fold. If you, like me, are still trying to figure him out, then you will probably still be intrigued. My one bit of advice is definitely to listen to a few sample tracks prior to buying this if you have never heard him before. You'll thank me--either for introducing you to something lovely and new, or for saving you from making the worst musical investment of your life. Read more ›

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Singer of rare beauty February 4, 2009

By Ashwin Dixit

Format:Audio CD

Antony Hegarty came to my attention at a tribute Leonard Cohen concert and I did not know what to make of him -he just looked like this large woman with a voice of an angel. His voice can be described as smooth and brittle as porcelain. You could call him Jazz-Avante gard, channelling Marlene Dietrich- whatever, he is probably the most exciting thing out there at the moment. With three albums out there plus the disco one he did he has a body of work worth investigating- if he keeps at this rate he will one day ranked with Bessie, Billie,Ella and Nina this is how good he is.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another brilliant album (4 1/2 stars) January 21, 2009

By D

Format:Audio CD

Antony's first album is an all-time favorite, and his second is an excellent followup...but having not loved some of his songs in concert and on the EP's and singles, I'm always nervous when he releases something new. So what's the verdict on the new album? There are definitely some standout tracks, but as a whole, it's another beautiful work of art.

I have to admit, I miss the big belt-it-out diva vocals of the first album, but I have to get used to the idea that he may not make another album like that one. And there's nothing wrong with the subtler approach that he takes on most of this album, except that occasionally during the quieter songs, I long to hear him amp it up a bit. But even the songs that I considered weak three days ago are starting to grow on me. In fact, I've listened to the album from beginning to end on a continuous loop at work for three days now, with no sign yet of tiring of it.

This may not be Antony's finest album, but it does bring us some of his finest songs. Epilepsy is Dancing, Daylight and the Sun, and Aeon are all stunning, and Dust and Water joins the short list of my favorite songs ever. Kudos to Antony for once again making some of the most powerful music of our time.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Artist Whose Beauty Lies In Her Rarity January 24, 2009

By John Mcdowell

Format:MP3 Music

The much awaited album by Antony's loyal following is finally here. I don't think any of us feared being disappointed and I can't imagine that many will be. Antony has not strayed far from what we have come to love since the first albums and ep's. There is a gentle sweep toward an even softer, gentler approach. Paired down a bit from prior releases, displaying individual instruments in ways we have not heard. Evolving but not moving further than most of us are ready for. There is still so much to lose ourselves in and Antony has touched our hearts again.

Hopefully as many as possible were able to see the recent performances with local philharmonics in selected cities. Modestly performing in silhouette with only a faint light on the face was as close to religion as many people have ever experienced. With 4 standing ovations from a crowd so diverse. From alternokids to the elderly, it was incredible to see such a group so united over an artist like Antony. And for those who don't know, he has a sense of humor that shows that he can laugh at himself and what many think are only eccentricities. At one point he shared an anecdote about the previous day's single rehearsal when he told the orchestra to pretend they were fish. And the absolute surprise and fun moment of the show was when the crowd stunningly realized he was singing Beyonce's "Crazy In Love".

A huge mistake that many make is that Antony's music is sadly lamenting something lost or a certain emptiness, but it is about lifting the spirit and being free of the conventions that stand in the way of loving ourselves and neighbors.

The only disappointment here is that with the preorder from Antony's website allowed an immediately free download entitled "My Lord My Love".... I think that Amazon should have some way of rectifying this, unless it is to ultimately be released elsewhere, but for now I'm sure that those of us who preordered would appreciate having the bonus song. Although there is plenty to be grateful for, I personally don't want to miss out on a thing. Read more ›