Road Records Album of the Week
Road Records Album of the Week is Becoming A Jackal from Ireland’s own, Villagers.
The Road Records Review :
“The debut album from Irish songwriter Conor O’Brien on the Domino label. Conor is a former member of Dublin indie rock outfit The Immediate.
The album features nine brand new tracks plus brand new recordings of “The Meaning of the Ritual” and “Pieces” which both appeared on the Hollow Kind E.P., released on Irish indie label Any Other City last year. Quite simply this is one of the most accomplished debut albums we have heard from a local musician in quite some time, this young man is going to be around for some considerable time if this is anything to go by. The album features a superbly lush collection of heartfelt and emotionally charged almost folk like songs, both dark and totally uplifting at the same time. It’s an album of almost orchestral-like pop sounds at times with tons of beautiful string and brass elements included along the way. There are moments that kind of remind me of pure intimacy of early Elliott Smith with elements also of the classic songwriting sounds of labelmate Cass McCombs.
It must be mentioned that this man possesses one of the finest voices i have heard in ages, equally happy with a low gentle whisper before hitting some soulful higher tones. From gentle folk to euphoric orchestral pop, this is an album that I can already see ending up in plenty of end of year polls. Sit back and relax for 45 minutes, you will the better for it afterwards.”
Tracklist:
01. I Saw The Dead
02. Becoming A Jackal
03. Ship Of Promises
04. Meaning Of The Ritual, The
05. Home
06. That Day
07. Pact (I’ll Be Your Fever), The
08. Set The Tigers Free
09. Twenty-Seven Strangers
10. Pieces
11. To Be Counted Among Men
Order Becoming a Jackal for €12.99 from Road Records here.
Official Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/villagers
*Julie and Dave’s Road Records, the amazing independent Dublin record store situated on Fade Street, survived a closing down scare at the end of 2009 but, thankfully, with the help of alot of friends, music-lovers and local musicians the shop is now over the worst of it.
One idea that has helped the lads through these times is a very simple one. An album of the month subscription. Basically the customer pays a membership fee and Road Records post out their album of the month every month.
Check it out here.