Customer Reviews

from the mountain to the sea

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

 

 

Indie rock's legendary, high-energy, live band has delivered an album that can only be described as a "giant leap forward." Birdmonster can still rock out ("The Iditarod" and "New Country"--with a hint of country twang in this cut,) but these guys are also great musicians, and the acoustic elements of this album allow those talents to shine through.

Peter Arcuni's voice is somehow richer, a bit Dylan-esque (sans mumbles), and his lyrics are engaging, interesting and beg comparison to early Jackson Browne songs. Drummer Zach Winter's manic live energy is both evident on some cuts and musically restrained on others.

And who doesn't love the banjo?

Fans of the band's live shows should be eager to see how the material plays and blends with the band's earlier efforts.

I quite enjoyed this album. I purchased it after viewing a charming video on the wonderful SF Bay music blog thebaybridged. At that point I was under the impression that this would be an indie rock album. It ended up a little more bluesy or alt-country than I expected. There are a few real gems on the album and the rest of the tracks are solid. I recommend this album.

From the Mountain to the Sea (2008, Faded Label) Birdmonster's second studio album. ***1/2

Birdmonster make simple, straight-ahead, good and honest alternative folk rock. They don't try to be overly complex and they aren't trying to channel any one specific sound. That might come off as Birdmonster not having a unique voice, because in all honesty, the instrumentation of the album isn't what defines the band in the slightest. It's vocalist Peter Arcuni that makes Birdmonster, and in particular From the Mountain to the Sea, magical. Arcuni sounds like a young Stephen Stills, specifically from his time with Buffalo Springfield (and a cover of "For What It's Worth" wouldn't have been out of line).

"My Love For You" opens things softly and introduces Arcuni near naked, as there's not much instrumentation behind him. "Lost at Sea" comes next, and sets the general attitude of most of the songs, as they tend to be in the vein of up-tempo folk numbers, and "Lost at Sea" is the best of those. But when they mood is more mellow, there are jewels like "Concrete Lights," an acoustic ballad that evolves with an electric guitar. But it is Arcuni's vocals that make the song, which is fairly monotone and only ever seems to go up, never descending as the listener so deperately predicts. It happens again on "The Only One," which features the entire band coming into full swing over time, but its message is simple if not beautiful: "I was young/and you were the only one." And later, "But there was the only truth/Could have been anyone/Just so happened that it was you."

Ear-pleasing to say the least, most of From the Mountain to the Sea is filled with catchy numbers. Arcuni and company would have no trouble going unplugged with these; really, an acoustic guitar and piano might suit most of these tracks better than the full-electric approach they've given it. A never-pretentious, always enjoyable and smooth effort. (My Love For You, Born to Be Your Man, Concrete Lights, The Only One)

God, I hope a lot of people hear this record. I put it on and can't stop playing it. There is no weak song and there are some real KILLER songs here. And what I love is that there are beautiful acoustic songs and then some real rockers. I loved NO MIDNIGHT but had the feeling that these guys could push the envelope more. I think if you are a fan of Wilco circa "Being There", the Replacements, Bruce, the Hold Steady you will dig this record. When I play it out loud friends have said: Who is this? I say "Birdmonster". They say "Bird Who?" But now they know. Everyone is talking about Fleet Foxes. I don't get them. Their songs don't stick with me and have no grit. These do. "Born to be Your Man" is amazing. So is "Lost at Sea" and "I Might Have Guessed" and "Iditarod". I can see other bands covering these songs in the future because they are so well put together. Well done boys. I want more!