Searching For Answers

In case you were wondering, what with the record release schedule in a lull for the rest of the year, I'm going back and examining some albums and EPs from the later part of 2008 which I happened to have missed due to time constraints, a heavy workload, or general laziness. Most of these records aren't ones I missed personally, just missed writing about. I've been listening to them for some time already. So let's get on with it then, shall we?

If the name Phil Elverum fails to ring any bells for you, I strongly advise checking out his material. He first became known to us with The Microphones, a band that was incredible at its peak and also masterful in the art of lo-fi acoustic singer-songwriter-type music. Definitely investigate The Microphones' 2001 album "The Glow, Pt. 2" is you've yet to hear it. A highlight, to be sure. But in 2003 Elverum chose to retire The Microphones name and instead evolved into Mount Eerie which was coincidentally the title of the last Microphones record. Since that time, Elverum and Mount Eerie have released a couple albums of varying note. The most prominent and absolute best of the Mount Eerie records is "Lost Wisdom," a collaboration with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire that was released last month. Doiron, if you've not heard of her, was a member of the Sonic Youth-inspired band Eric's Trip and later went on to record as both Broken Girl and most recently under her own name. Her last few records have been released on Jagjaguwar and have that similar lo-fi acoustic vibe that Elverum's material usually contains. Only the themes and lyrical content really show the difference between these two artists, with Elverum asking questions of the universe and Doiron taking pleasure in the little things. To have them collaborate on this (along with guitar virtuoso Fred Squire) makes sense from a stylistic perspective, and it's fascinating to hear what sort of influence they push onto one another.

With Elverum and Doiron either taking on songs individually or in duet form or even harmonizing with one another, it's a small challenge to tell exactly who wrote what, though many of the lyrics have that darker Elverum feel. What makes "Lost Wisdom" particularly interesting is how some of these darker subjects (growing old, obtaining and losing love, etc) are molded into songs that have a warmer vibe that shoots directly to your heart. Doiron's voice is largely responsible for this extra dose of beauty, and that's the absolute greatest thing this album has going for it. By bringing that additional emotion to these songs along with the stellar lyrics, "Lost Wisdom" excels above most of the traditional folk you hear these days. This and Bon Iver can be stacked among the best acoustic-driven, whisper quiet albums of 2008. Buy it and strap on some headphones when you're in the mood for some "me time" and desire some introspection. How something this gorgeous came together in a matter of weeks during a gap in everyone's schedules seems to be proof that not all great musical art takes a long time to perfect.

Mount Eerie- Flaming Home
Mount Eerie- What? (left click)

Buy "Lost Wisdom" from Amazon

Labels: julie doiron, mount eerie, the microphones