The Good Life-Lovers Need Lawyers
What with his much publicised love for a cocktail or two, or three…the pent up anthems inside him of divorce and cynicism, and all the doses of malice and ill will one would need in an entire life-time to tide their dark-side over, Tim Kasher has, by far, enough on his mind to warrant this second project.
This mini-album comes courtesy of ‘Cursive’ front man Tim Kasher, and with all the typical drama and decadence associated with many a Saddle-Creek release, it does not fail to impress. ‘The Good Life’ came about through Tim’s need to explore a different song-writing style, and knowing precious little about ‘Cursive’, it would be hard to make a comparison, which I’m sure is a good thing for Tim as it cannot be all together exhilarating having your new work constantly weighed up against your old.
Now I’m not going to go through this track by track listening to every lyric and tone of gesture like one review I read for this particular piece (what did she do, eat the c.d?!), as there is so much lyrical importance and meaningful sentiment it would take an entire lifetime. That sums most of this album up really; it’s a collection of quiet catchy pop gems which leave no nook of quality unturned, every care has been taken with everything, not just the guitars, not just the vocals, not just the lyrics. It is an almost perfectly formed piece by a man with copious amounts of drunken wisdom who speaks to the faltering romantic in us all.
Nevertheless so you know what to expect…a favourite of mine came in the form of ‘The Entertainer”, Tim’s voice sounds pitch perfect and the musical; strangely happy indignation really sweeps you under. The opening lyrics of “Lovers Need Lawyers” are also severely admirable, and the way they’re sung along with the indelible hook really couldn’t be better. ‘Always a bridesmaid’, other than the cracking title, has the most darling melody accompanying the heart-rending yearn of the lines. By the time I get close to the finale, and by this time close to a lulled respite, the more gallantly introduced track ‘Friction!’ shocked the hell outta me. One minute you’re sitting there swaying along to a sorrowful tale of weddings and wonderment, the next you’re listening to what can only be described as an acoustically misshaped punk-song. But it works, and his voice fortunately manoeuvres to work with both fields. Closer ‘For The Love Of The Song’ is a pretty, uplifting job with feel good lyrics “you are what you are, you are what you are!” and worded concerns about being cliché with his expression.
This is a confident musical tale told with wit and grace, which with it’s tepid melody and dimmed electric guitars could easily have gone the wrong way and relaxed you into a coma, but instead it catches itself before it reaches that descend and with its un-avoidable frankness becomes capable of easily inspiring you straight out of one and throwing you back into the world, complete with all such anthems this jaded place is capable of inspiring.