The fourth full-length album by Omaha-based indie band Cursive--the second after their 2000 reformation following an extended breakup--THE UGLY ORGAN continues with both the dark lyrical themes and more acoustic sound of its immediate predecessor, DOMESTICA. Where that album was explicitly about Cursive frontman Tim Kasher's apparently emotionally devastating divorce, THE UGLY ORGAN is both more general in its themes and more misanthropic in its attitude. Music business aggravations permeate "Butcher the Song" and "Art Is Hard," while more personal demons haunt "A Gentleman Caller" and "Some Red Handed Sleight of Hand." After the general undercurrent of negativity, however, the 10-minute closing epic, "Staying Alive" (not the Bee Gees favorite, naturally), ends the album on a far more hopeful although still stormy note. On that song, as throughout, Cursive's newest member, cellist Gretta Cohn, is the band's secret weapon, with her lyrical, emotionally resonant melodies providing flashes of sunshine in the album's otherwise pitch-black arrangements.
Recorded at Presto Studios, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Cursive: Tim Kasher (vocals, guitar, organ); Ted Stevens (guitar, background vocals); Greta Cohn (cello); Matt Magnin (bass); Clint Schnase (drums, percussion).
Personnel: Tim Kasher (vocals, guitar, organ); Ted Stevens (vocals, guitar); A.J. Mogis, Alex McManus, Robert Hawkins, Sara Wilson, Jenny Lewis, Conor Oberst, Clark Baechle, Todd Fink (vocals); Mike Mogis (guitar, keyboards, vibraphone, bells); Gretta Cohn (cello).
Recording information: Presto!, Lincoln, NE.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contians both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.Magnet (4/03, p.86) - "...An album on which Kasher makes his strongest musical statement....THE UGLY ORGAN is the best punk record you'll hear all year, articulate and amped all the same..." CMJ (03/17/03, p.6) - "...The disc gushes like a passionate opera, fleshed out by jarring strings, guitar-punk sexuality and a nearly exhaustive poetic fervor..." Mojo (Publisher) (4/03, p.102) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Cursive employ musical inventiveness and a healthy dose of self-awareness to set themselves apart....It's worth taking time to make Cursive's pain your own guilty pleasure..."
rad ! This is such an amazing album. The cello is beyond awe-inspiring it seriously sends shivers down my spine when I listen to this album. Kasher has an amazing voice, and is a really good song writer. The Ugly Organ definatly falls under the top ten best albums ever made. Submitted by Jen (Vansterdam, BC, Canada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Beautiful Amazing! I have listened to it almost every day for the last two weeks. I love the continuity from one song to another. Great for fans of all types of music. Submitted by sdarellano (Riverside) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
great punk record experimental structure is all over the place here. lots of loud noise, cool rythms and harmonies, screaming spitting vocals. cursive abandons traditional structure completely, and its friggin great. a passionate masterpeice from an evolving indie band. its their best piece.... and i love it... i think i've listened to it over 40 times since i got it for christmas.... its killer. Submitted by Argyle (Nashville) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
one great indie album This album is good. I've never been into indie for the most part, but this album really has a nice flow to it, and the cello compliments the guitar nicely. If you're only a fan of top 40, MTV bands, then you probably won't like this record, but if you want something refreshingly different, then buy this album. My favorites are "Art is Hard, Some Red Handed Sleight of Hand, and Butcher the Song". Submitted by Nick (reviewer from Kansas) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Fall in love to fail to increase cd sales! You might need 2 listens, you might need 17 till you realise what a masterpiece this is. Tim's crowning voice will leave you unlocking your own faults and guilts.The guitars work so smooth over the cello. They've run ambient and ugly music at the same time and it's produced rocks/art/post-emo/alternatives most powerful, raw but sweet music, go collect Submitted by cambriaspirate (melbourne aus) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
rad !
great punk record
one great indie album
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