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 Caught in the Carousel "There will be music despite everything"
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The Wingdale Community Singers
Spirit Duplicator
Scarlet Shame Records
I was interested to hear this CD because it's Rick Moody's band...Rick Moody, the writer, who wrote The Ice Storm and Garden State and Demonology and, with an oeuvre like that, he's excused from being good at anything else. But Spirit Duplicator is good and it's interesting. As one might expect from a novelist penning songs, every number is very literary, and while you may not fall in love with the melodies, you'll find yourself keeping an ear cocked for the clever and insightful albeit world-weary lyrics. Every song tells a good story and features great character descriptions. One of the more tuneful numbers and my favorite on the CD is "Rancho de la Muerta":
In his Stetson and his vest
Haunts the only bar in town
Where even Jesus came to rest
Where a man still has dominion
And the Migrants know their place
Where the jukebox comes from Nashville
And there's always parking spaces
Hannah Marcus, who sings on every cut and also wrote or co-wrote most of the songs is very reminiscent of the Chapin Sisters in her vocal style. There's a deliberate old-timey feel to the production on this CD. These musicians are obviously urban but the music and arrangements sound rural, even pastoral in spots. The contrast works. "My Les Paul" is a timely number and quite sweet, not intended as an homage probably, but I took it as one. "I'm In The Mood To Drive," the first cut on the album, is also kind of fun. Oh, and I loved "Montreal."
—The Vinyl Princess
www.thevinylprincess.com
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