At first listen, Pomegranate, Astronautalis’ third full-length album, is underwhelming to say the least. But the record’s subtle inner workings become apparent on the second or third listen. On Pomegranate, Astronautalis (née Andy Bothwell), weaves stories of love, betrayal, loss, lust, and rabble-rousing. Throughout the album, Bothwell mixes together his obsession with historical tidbits, his own family heritage, and his Walt Whitman-esque love for the hard-working man into a conglomerate of stories, sagas, and adventures that span several generations and locales.
Using his unique talent as a former battle-rapper turned indie-hop sensation, Bothwell skillfully conjures stories that almost seem to be the epics of heroes and heroines. One second he’s telling the tale of a con-man whose life of crime has inevitably caught up with him on “The Wondersmith and his Sons” and the next quietly whispers the romantic lamentations of a forlorn snow patroller who wishes nothing more than to hold his lover on “Avalanche Patrol.” The most puzzling song is “The Most Important Track on the Album,” which is 2 munites 45 seconds of silence, perhaps urging the listener to appreciate the metaphorical silence in life, or some other equally oblique existential concept. In “Trouble Hunters,” Bothwell places a crowd of drunken teenagers in Revolutionary War-era Delaware fighting Hessians and jumping from ice floe to ice floe. Andy saves his best track for last with “The Story of My Life,” which avid fans will recognize as akin to his older, more hip-hop infused songs.
Using members of indie bands like Midlake, the Polyphonic Spree, and the Paper Cheese during key musical sections has cancelled out much of his previous hip-hop background. Fret not though, this album has something for everyone, from curious newcomers to long-time listeners.
Voice’s Choices: “The Story of My Life,” “Avalanche Patrol,” “Trouble Hunting”
