Bombadil – Tarpits and Canyonlands
October 19th, 2009 | by J Meagher | published in folk-rock | 2 comments
Click image to download full album
Sounds like: The Decemberists, Avett Brothers, The Mountain Goats
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What’s so good?
I’m not sure if I will ever again listen an album as much as Bombadil’s debut LP, “A Buzz, A Buzz.” I don’t know if it was just because of where I was in life personally, or because I stumbled upon them randomly in a bar in Harrisonburg, Virginia, but the sounds of that record grabbed my attention in ways I doubted music could. It was nostalgic and whimsical and a little scary and I loved every song. “Tarpits and Canyonlands” (which came out in July) captures everything I loved about their first album with the added benefit of sounding freakin’ amazing.
The point brought up in almost every review of the album so far has been the contribution of producer Scott Solter. This guy has worked with acts like The Mountain Goats, John Vanderslice, and St. Vincent, and obviously knows how to bring a groups sound together. The songs are about as diverse as an indie-rock band can make them. From rollicking Decemberisty (yeah I said it) tunes, to whimsical folk yarns, to epic ruminations of life and death, its pretty much got it all covered. The instrumentation is wonderfully varied as well, I mean who doesn’t like the sound of pan flutes? What strikes me most is the honesty you hear in their voices. What they are saying may not always be transcendent, or thought provoking (though often it is), but you always believe they mean it, or have felt what they are expressing to you. I think this is a rare trait, and one Bombadil owns completely.
And like many of the songs they write, there is a hint of sadness to their story. A week before releasing the album, and embarking on the inevitable tour, which would spread the good word of Bombadil far and wide, the band made a sad announcement. One of the three full time members and chief songwriters of the band, Daniel Michalak, had been diagnosed with severe tendonitis of his hands, forcing them to cancel all upcoming shows. The band is hopeful of a full recovery, and they’re writing new songs in the meantime. Until then we have an excellent album I will be listening to again, and again.
elsewhere on the web:
paste magazine review | pastemagazine.com
indy week review| indyweek.com
daytrotter session | daytrotter.com
download:
bombadil – honeymoon.mp3
October 21st, 2009 at 6:12 pm (#)
“What strikes me most is the honesty you hear in their voices. What they are saying may not always be transcendent, or thought provoking (though often it is), but you always believe they mean it, or have felt what they are expressing to you. I think this is a rare trait, and one Bombadil owns completely.”
God yes!!!! I’m so happy to come across yet another review of this amazing record. it is my favorite favorite favorite of this year i think. i just cannot keep myself from nearly exploding when i hear a song from it, every time i hear a song from it. and it is that honesty, that bare, peeled back, exposed beauty in it that shines out which brings so much joy to this black humored project.
so thank you, thank you for writing about it and bringing news of it to more people. i want every music lover in the world to hear this thing, xoxo
[reply]
December 20th, 2009 at 9:40 pm (#)
[...] like: Bombadil, The Dodos, [...]