Old Canes

Feral Harmonic

(Saddle Creek)

Record Review by Amber Henson

I recently found out that a good friend of mine doesn’t really pay much attention to the lyrics in songs. I’ve thought a lot about this idea since, and I haven’t come to a different conclusion than the first reaction I had: That’s nuts!

Lyrics are so important to me.  I feel like I’m connecting to the musician in more than just some sounds made by an instrument.  Yes, of course music’s powerful without it, but it’s just not the same, not for me.  However, I’ve reviewed and been perfectly pleased with albums where the lyrics are in a foreign language, or sometimes completely nonexistent.  Those records are fine and all, but I still feel like I’m missing something.  It’s frustrating.

Even more frustrating is when there are lyrics, but they just weren’t recorded that well so I can’t understand them.  Out of the twelve tracks on Old Canes’ album Feral Harmonic, this is what I was able to pick up: “When I’m thirsty, you are the fountain, and in the face of danger, I’m unafraid, as long as you’re here” from “Little Bird Courage” and “You were dancing and I was sad” from “Flower Faces”.  That’s not to say I couldn’t listen more closely and slowly determine the vocals, but I shouldn’t have to lean down next to the speaker like some hunched grandma listening to Al Jolson.

Luckily, this album has a lot to give besides its lyrics.  There is a lot of care put into Feral Harmonic, as there should be since it took three and a half years to make.  There are some great fun tracks, and a lot of collaborating, but the record never becomes more than a sum of its parts.  The drums are fun and driving, lead Chris Crisci rocks the toy piano, and I definitely enjoyed Jeff Stoltz on the harmophone.

Charming, I think, is a good descriptor for this album, but I never found it compelling necessarily.  It’s a great effort, and worth a listen, I just doubt that I’ll be racking up the play counts in my iTunes on this one.  I guess I’m just a lyrics kinda gal.