Friday, February 6, 2009

Album Review: "The Crying Light" by Antony and the Johnsons


At first listen, Antony and the JohnsonsThe Crying Light probably isn't for anyone but the most morose among us, freshly off being dumped by the loves of our lives. After subsequent listens, it probably still isn't for most people. It's so very unconventional. But for those open-minded enough to allow Antony Hegarty's irresistably weird voice to do its magic, there's the bountiful reward of a stunning collection of songs making up his third full-length album. His quivering, almost operatic singing style is unlike anything else out there on the rock scene. It might even be a stretch to call this rock music. That's neither here nor there. The only classification that matters to me is that it's beautiful music.

The Animal Collective album is the 2009 release getting all the attention so far, but this one is my pick for album of the first month and six days of year. Not that Merriweather Post Pavilion isn't very good. It is, and deserves any attention it gets. But The Crying Light is so direct and sincere in its appeal to the sad boy or girl in you without being cheesy that you have to recognize it as a rare piece of art.

Video for "Epilepsy is Dancing" 

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