It takes a few listens to fully digest mewithoutYou's latest album. Between Aaron Weiss's semi-nasal vocals and the self-consciously quirky tone of the album, the group's sound can take some getting used to. Here, the quartet further explores its folksy side, while focusing a good portion of its lyrical attention on spiritual themes. The latter is evidenced by the fact that the album title is taken from the parable teachings of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, who was a prominent Sri Lankan Sufi sheik until his death in 1986. The band have definitely moved in a different direction with their latest work. Look out for this record; it’s definitely an acquired taste, but it’s well worth your attention.
Listening to the album, I couldn’t help but notice how different it is from mewithoutYou’s previous work. Aaron Weiss’s vocals no longer sound seething or tormented, which may leave dedicated fans of this Philadelphian band more than puzzled, especially when listening to “Goodbye, I!” The song tells the tale of an unlikely exchange between a tortoise and a hummingbird. If you’re hoping to hear the mewithoutYou of the past, there are still a few dark riffs to be found throughout “Goodbye, I!” You just have to do is some aural digging behind that happy-go-lucky accordion.
On “A Stick, A Carrot & String”, you can hear a bit of the old mewithoutYou sound, particularly when Michael Weiss’s guitar takes on an electronic sheen. Looking beyond its generally upbeat tone, “A Stick, A Carrot & String” delves into an unusual existentialist retelling of the birth of Christ.
If you’ve gotten about halfway through It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All A Dream! It’s Alright and still haven’t found something to satisfy your expectations, then give “Bullet to Binary (Pt. 2)” a spin. Aaron Weiss’s frantic vocals are probably the closest they get to sounding like any of his previous work. The pairing of acoustic and electric guitar lines are similarly sure to satisfy. The song is ostensibly about a bunch of talking fruits and vegetables, but closer listening reveals lyrics that are deeply steeped in the teachings of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen. Leave it to mewithoutYou to point out the misgivings and falsities of the world, but at least these guys do it with creativity and style. I mean, I can’t think of a better way to explore the existence and meaning of a higher power than by listening to the garden troubles of vegetables, can you?
The folksy style that mewithoutYou have cultivated over the course of the record is particularly prominent on “Cattail Down.” With his skilled but subtle playing on acoustic guitar, it's Michael Weiss's show, up until the breakdown. There his talents are matched by Mazzotta’s cymbal-heavy drumming, with strong support from an accordion and small brass section. “Cattail Down” is full of surprises and worth giving your full attention.
With a title like “The King Beetle on a Coconut Estate,” I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was thrilled to hear strings, harmonized brass, and a flute in the background. Rather than giving the song an orchestral sound, however, these instruments suggest a minstrel relating a dramatic tale at medieval court. Fittingly, the song tells the triumphant story of a beetle king and his subjects.
If you’re expecting the same old mewithoutYou on their fourth and most recent release, you had best throw those expectations out the window. Aaron’s anguished vocals of the group's past recordings have been replaced by his humble storytelling. Instead of Jehanian’s crushing bass and Michael Weiss’s angsty guitar, you’ll be sitting at the table of folk decadence as the group explores their creative boundaries. It’s definitely a far cry from their previous work, but It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All A Dream! It’s Alright deserves no less attention.
It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All A Dream! It’s Alright was produced by Dan Smith and released on May 19, 2009 through Tooth & Nail Records.
Track List
1. Every Thought a Thought of You (3:31)
2. The Fox, the Crow and the Cookie (3:31)
3. The Angel of Death Came to David's Room (3:54)
4. Goodbye, I! (3:50)
5. A Stick, a Carrot & String (3:06)
6. Bullet to Binary (Pt. Two) (5:12)
7. Timothy Hay (3:37)
8. Fig with a Bellyache (3:31)
9. Cattail Down (3:47)
10. The King Beetle on a Coconut Estate (6:01)
11. Allah, Allah, Allah (4:55)
