Album of the Week: The Antlers - Hospice

Concept albums get a bad rap. Though a lot of these are song-as-narrative crapfests with predictable stories and cheesy thematic connections, there are still quite a number of great releases in this genre. For every prog-rock sci-fi excursion and metal rendering of Norse gods battling each other for a golden ipod or some nonsense or other, there are albums like Kid A, Zen Arcade, or The Soft Bulletin that not only deliver strong story-lines but stunning songs. The new release Brooklyn's the Antlers, entitled Hospice, thankfully falls into the later category, detailing the story of two young lovers beginning their lives together when one is hospitalized by a life-threatening illness. Yeah, such a canned premise holds the potential to produce an emo cheese-fest of magnificent proportions, but the Antlers handle the topic tastefully by relying less on maudlin exposition and more on exploring the fragility and preciousness of human life. It is an invigorating and life-assuring listen. But the concept itself is second teer to the pure talent of the group performing the music. The compositions evoke the orchestral thrall of groups like Arcade Fire or Final Fantasy, but uses the instrumentation wisely to avoid bombast; the dynamics heard in songs like "Two" where the track builds from a simple guitar-vocal melody to a squall of beautiful white noise. The outcome is awe-inspiring and sublime. Vocally, the album holds hints of Jeff Buckley's Grace as an influence. especially on "Kettering" where singer Peter Silberman lets out a soul-shattering falsetto that evokes not only Mr. Buckley, but Thom Yorke, Tom Verlaine's warble, and the throes of a captive siren. It is tranquil, operatic, and inspiring music, and a sure sign that as the decade nears its end, there are still new bands arriving that promise great listening for the next. NPR is already contending Hospice as one of the best albums of the year, and I couldn't agree more.

Listen To: "Two", "Kettering" "Atrophy"

RIYL: Arcade Fire, Jeff Buckley, Neutral Milk Hotel