Reviewed by: Derek Miller
Reviewed on: 2005-09-14

Posted 09/14/2005 - 07:40:14 AM by J.Timmermann:
	Nice review, Derek. I'm really loving this record!
Posted 09/14/2005 - 10:31:56 AM by KlausFraktal:
	I found it to be contrived and really rather bland, along the same lines as Patrick Wolf, but with more canned influences piled on. I mean, it sounds like a recording of Joanna Newsom singing along to a Portishead CD in her Volvo, and as incredible as that might sound, it doesn't really work. Also, I wouldn't classify this as 'freak-folk' or 'New Weird America' or whatever Pitchfork is calling it this week. This whole European techno-trip-folk thing seems to me to be its own animal, and while I love Devendra and Vetiver and everyone else associated with that circle, I'm really not digging this old country stuff for the opposite reason why Devendra was such a surprise: it's weirdness without the authenticity. I hate to sound so negative, as the record certainly isn't awful and has glimmers of promise, but it just oozes with icky hipster pretension. Regardless, my two cents, and I'll be curious to see if I'm in a significant minority on this one.
Posted 09/14/2005 - 11:13:53 AM by collen:
	Quite disturbing this album, but i didn't like it. As much as i have a weak spot for whimsical, this songs don't have a discerning melody, nice noises without real musicianship. Liked the lyrics, but without a good song to go along with it...
Posted 09/14/2005 - 01:48:33 PM by ckramer:
	ya this record is great. not to mention the crazy excellent album art. (what?)
Posted 09/14/2005 - 08:21:57 PM by bendsinister:
	whoa, I'm totally crushing on ckramer's comment. and I'm crushing on CocoRosie's mullets and mom. And the song Honey and Tar makes me melt. This convoluted review, no matter how great the score, is not very fun to read. And I'm not sure Klaus knows that cocorosie are some of the founders of 'new weird americana'. strange.
Posted 09/14/2005 - 09:09:19 PM by KlausFraktal:
	Unless I'm missing something, they missed the 'founding' by about 10 years.
Posted 09/15/2005 - 04:52:20 PM by paperdrums:
	The "founding" of the New Weird America sound? What on earth are you talking about?
Posted 09/15/2005 - 04:54:45 PM by bendsinister:
	if not the originators, than certainly central in the scene's modern popularity and lore. either way, i certainly wouldn't put it anywhere near 'old country stuff'.
Posted 09/15/2005 - 04:55:36 PM by bendsinister:
	if not 'among the originators' i mean.
Posted 01/27/2006 - 08:30:00 AM by noahsark:
	just wanted to say this was my favourite album of 2005. up there with animal collective and girls aloud for me :)