Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Review of Clare & the Reasons' Sophomore Album

Here is my review of Arrow, by Clare & the Reasons, which I did for a local newspaper here in Tacoma, Washington called The Volcano. 

Clare & The Reasons (Frog Stand Records 2009)

By Megan Mitchell

November 18, 2009

New York-based indie pop band Clare & The Reasons (Clare Muldaur, Olivier Manchon and Bob Hart, mainly) should not be dismissed as yet another frivolous romp through the format field of other artists in the genre.  Clare & The Reasons combine their talents to create their meticulously composed sophomore album, Arrow. 

Featuring My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden (on “This is the Story”) and a cover of Genesis’ “That’s All,” this album is sure to span a unique range of musicality.  Most of the songs feature a lovely string orchestra of violins, violas and cello, often backed by heavy bass drums and Muldaur’s whimsical, almost childlike vocalizations.  In addition to this diverse span of instruments, expect to hear some French horn, synths and lighthearted kazoo in the mix. 

Tracks such as “All the Wine” and “Ooh You Hurt Me So,” truly exemplify Muldaur’s hauntingly simplistic vocals, while still revealing the painstakingly precise compositional steps made to present this work of true artistry that spans multiple genres.

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