Something I cannot find, something I cannot do.
posted January 5, 2008, 8:21 pm | Log In To Post Comments | 
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Tags: Beirut, The Flying Club Cup
I noticed that Beirut's "Flying Club Cup" is absent from the. I'd like to talk about Beirut in general, about Zac Condon (melts...) and his previous work, in the context of his newest achievement.Â
If you think Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Magnum is God, then Beirut's Zac Condon is Jesus. His knowledge of music is evident in all of his albums, especially his first, The Gulag Orkestar. The Gulag Orkestar is, essentially, an ode to the places he traveled, for he incorporates names of people, places and events into the titles and lyrics of his songs. The album received pretty good reviews, but it wasn't until Beirut started touring with Calexico (and other bands) that they were recognized for their real musical talent. Violins, ukuleles, trumpets, keyboards, trombones...every musical instrument you can think of is on stage (but usually no guitars). Songs like "Brandenburg" and "Mount Wroclai" have sort of a beer-hall feeling, but they don’t lack any artistic quality or meaning. Condon's syrupy voice covers the audience like a blanket, smothering them in powerful and beautiful lyrics that are as painfully honest as lines from a Wes Anderson film. "Postcards from Italy" and "Rhineland (Heartland)" are some of the more simpler songs on the album, the bulk of the tracks being Condon on the ukulele, but they are some of the most downloaded songs off that album.Â
Beirut's latest, "Flying Club Cup" arguably their best album. Condon does not abandon his love of Balkan/gypsy music but rather elevates to a new level. His influences come from the folk music from southern Europe, mainly France. Again, much of his lyrics and titles are borrowed from places and people he encounters in his travels in southern Europe. Some of his tracks are more electronic: less ukulele, more piano/organ/keyboard. Examples of this would be "Nantes," and "A Sunday Smile," which give out a more NMH-feel in terms of sound. Many of the songs repeat the same lyrics, as if they are connected or part of the same story. "It's been a long time since I've seen you smile," sings Zac Condon throughout many of his tracks, as if every song is just a collection of continuing conversations to the same person. This album is braver, more sophisticated, and shows the bands coming of age and maturity.Â
Beirut makes you nostalgic for something you never knew, wanting to go to a place you never heard of. They are one of the few bands out there that make music that requires you to buy the whole album instead of just a couple songs (which is what you should do anyway...why buy a few pages when you need the whole book?). Each album is like a road trip, a map of where Beirut has been and where they are heading. Condon's voice acts like a musical broom that's aimed to sweep you off your feet when you least expect it, reminding you of Morrissey if he ever lived in Austria. In all, there are too many things to say about this album, other than it's worth listening to.Â
That is something I cannot find.
The thing I cannot do: Edit my profile (favorite artists? how do you add that?) If anyone can help me out I'd greatly appreciate it.Â
Thanks!
Comments:
FAVORITE ARTISTS: Find the Beirut page, click on "Add To Favorites". That's it. I'll try and get around to adding that other Beirut album, and checking it out myself.
posted on January 5, 2008, 11:22 pm
