A Mad & Faithful Telling, or "Oh My Lordy, Oh My God"

    Sometimes an album is merely a collection of songs, and that's OK, but sometimes it's so much more, and that's when it's something special. I've gotten to the point where I'm looking for that "so much more" from a record and let me tell you, I've found it in Devotchka's A Mad & Faithful Telling. I actually got a chill when I heard the opening notes of "Basso Profundo," and the rest of the record never disappoints.

    There's so much I want to rave about that I don't know where to start. Perhaps the most obvious place to begin is with the wonder that is Nick Urata. I don't think there's anyone else who can sing with the fervor and passion and heart-rending angst that he brings to a song. Sometimes there's a palpable ache in his throat. My god, the man can sing.

    In addition to that, this album is an amazing mix of dance music. Say what? Yes, dance music. Only I don't mean disco, I mean stirring waltzes and fast and furious folk songs and intensely romantic ballroom dances. I cannot keep my body still when I listen to it. It's a glorious concoction of more musical styles than I can name. Mariachi, Eastern European, Polka, classical Spanish guitar, Gypsy, French cafe--the interplay is fluid and flawless throughout.

    My theory is that the songs alternate somewhat between Mad and Faithful. The Mad ones are urgent and searching and the Faithful ones are filled with painful realizations and acceptance of things that cannot be changed. There is an underlying urgency to the whole record which is rendered amazingly by the strings and horns, at times soaring and orchestral and at others precise and fiery.

    Can you tell that I really love this album?

    It's incredibly difficult to pick a single song to highlight the beauty and breadth of this music, but I'm going with "Blessing in Disguise," mainly because it speaks such a powerful truth (read the lyrics here) and because of the lilting waltz tempo and the way it slows down as the song ends about rips my heart out. A few of my favorite lines from it are "Is losing something that you love a blessing in disguise / Who comes and goes into our life, not for us to decide . . . Oh my lordy, Oh my god, I finally see what's going on / I count the fingers that you made me / Am I squandering the life you gave me."

Devotchka--"Blessing in Disguise" mp3 off A Mad & Faithful Telling (buy)

    There's a promo video for the album on Youtube that takes a brief look into the recording process and some live footage, plus short interviews with the band members. The other band members are Jeanie Schroder (tuba, bass, vocals), Shawn King (violin, accordion, toy piano) and Thomas Hagerman (drums, trumpet, accordion). In addition to lead vocals, Nick Urata plays guitar, theramin and trumpet.

    It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, this record raises the bar for cohesiveness and completeness and deserves and demands to be played from start to finish.

    I ask above whether you can tell I really love this record. The real question is, do you trust me when I tell you that you should go out and buy this album immediately and that you will never regret it because you will fall in love with it just like I did? I hope so.

tags: devotchka  

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