Murder By Death is known for musical experiments, and their latest LP, Big Dark Love, is no exception. All in all, the band gives their seventh studio album a decent effort; but I’m worried that the discrepancy in quality between their previous LP, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, and Big Dark Love shows that even though they may have found a consistent sound, the quality of their future work may differ wildly. Unfortunately, this most recent experiment falls short.
The five piece ensemble taps into their alt-folk/indie rock sound once again to create nervous, haunting melodies powered by simple, up tempo drumbeats, a remarkable variety of stringed instruments, and lead singer Adam Turla’s vocals. Indeed, Turla’s vocals are the most memorable feature of the album. He manages to combine Johnny Cash’s baritone with a Willie Nelson-like lisp to get a comforting, grandfatherly voice that makes the chilling qualities of the album’s songs all the more bizarre.
For instance, “Dream in Red” evokes 19th century Appalachian murder ballads with lyrics such as, “Down by the river she said she swore I’d die / My body was broken, my wrists were tied / Broken in the reeds, tangled in the weeds / That’s where … she resides.” High pitched violins screech throughout the song, obviously connoting screaming, while the rhythm picks up as the song’s narrator becomes more and more afraid. Needless to say, the overall effect is disconcerting.
But beyond the more frightening elements of the album, Murder By Death’s newest release is nonetheless pure Americana. “Send Me Home” exhibits Turla performing a classic Bruce Springsteen growl and wail while singing about the highway, moving on, and ex-girlfriends—the timeless Springsteen trifecta.
I’m still curious to see what Murder By Death comes up with next, because I love the idea of Johnny Cash’s vocals used in modern country and folk settings. Unfortunately, Big Dark Love, sounds like an established band’s first foray into angst-ridden, emotional music, but their experiment just didn’t pay off.
Voice’s Choices: “Send Me Home,” “Natural Pearl”
