OK, Cursive is brilliant.  No, I’m not joking.  These guys (and gal) are as musically talented a bunch as I have seen. But don’t think regular 4 chord progressions with this group; think dark, dissonant, moody, and angry, all while putting notes together so fluently that you won’t bother to listen to the lyrics on the first few spins.  They have added cellist Gretta Cohn, who also played with Bright Eyes, and whether or not you think that is a good or bad thing, I can tell you she rocks on this album.

Drawing on the concept of failed relationships, specifically his marriage, front man Tim Kasher has crafted a super dark piece of work, musically.  But in my opinion, the concept idea has left a hole in the album.  He doesn’t quite convey the idea I think he set out to with this album, or he purposely made everything so vague that it is hard to see how all of the songs fit together fluidly.  (See Pedro The Lion’s “Control” for an example of what a concept album should be.) But aside from the fact that he hides the concept too well, or just forgot it on a few songs, this CD has some shining lyrical moments.  (My complaint is not with the lyrics themselves, but with them as a concept.)

In the song “Art Is Hard”, my personal favorite, Kasher laments that he has to write songs for other people to listen to, and he is tired of the same old lines and ideas getting reused: “Cut it out/Your self-inflicted pain is getting too routine/The crowds are catching on to the self-inflicted song/Well, here we go again the art of acting weak/Fall in love to fail to boost your CD sales.” “Driftwood: A Fairy Tale” has some of the album’s catchiest lyrics; they cry out to be sung along with.

I’ve said enough about the lyrics, so let’s talk about the music for a bit.  On the second track, “Some Red Handed Slight Of Hand”, they come in hard and fast, and Cohn’s cello is profoundly evident and delightfully pleasing in a dark kind of way.  “The Recluse” displays great work by each band member and gives way to long breaks that accent each instrument, and the music on “Harold Weathervein” is altogether ingenious.  As a whole, this album blew my mind musically and I fell in love with the intricate design of each song.  They are so unnatural in their approach to the music that you are both captivated and astounded that something so blunt could be so creative.

I know it sounds like I don’t like this album, but musically I love it.  Lyrically I am indifferent.  I would tell you to go and get all of the older Cursive stuff.  The lyrics are better, but they don’t have Gretta’s cello, and thus the music isn’t quite as good.  So if you need a dark but musically brilliant album, get The Ugly Organ.  You won’t be disappointed.  But if you’re looking for a concept album that is neatly wrapped up by the last track, stay away from this one, because you will be.

Written by Matt Windham.

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• Sep 6, 2003, 12:00am