Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.5
Production: 9.0
Originality: 9.5
Tracklisting
2. O' What A Nightmare!
3. Hello Vagina
4. I Am A Lightning Rod
5. Love Song For A Schuba’s Bartender
6. Mariel's Brazen Overture
7. There's Talk Of Mineshafts
8. A Children's Crusade On Acid
9. German Motor Car
10. Cold, Kind, And Lemon Eyes
11. My Baby (Shoots Her Mouth Off)
12. As Tall As Cliffs
New music from Margot And The Nuclear So And So's has been a long time coming. The band released their debut album The Dust Of Retreat in 2005 with a remixed and remastered re-release in 2006. With sparse new material in the form of demos and live versions over a three year period, a studio album finally looked to be on its way mid-2008. Disagreements though with their new label Epic over song choice pushed the hotly anticipated release back further. The battle was eventually settled and out of the dispute came two new releases instead of one: Animal! and Not Animal. Animal! is the band's vision and Not Animal, which features many older re-recorded songs, is the label's baby.
Animal! begins with the brooding 'At The Carnival' which conjures images of a ferris wheel and "booting" your companion to the moon. While the 6 minute song moves along inch by inch with little progression, other than the folk-tinged middle section, lead singer Richard Edward's eerie voice draws you in as any good storyteller should. 'O' What A Nightmare!' displays the band's pronounced use of the full band sound (i.e. grittier guitars courtesy of Edwards and Andy Fry) without sacrificing the band’s signature orchestral sound. The next three tracks were debuted before the release as part of the band's Daytrotter Sessions EP. Perhaps the biggest change you’ll find on the new releases is the band’s overall ramped up sound.
While most of the band's debut was driven heavily by Edward's vocals, the band's bevy of backing instruments now step up to the front and make themselves feel quite at home. 'Mariel’s Brazen Overture' is a song that the band has been working on for quite sometime and finally sees the light of day. This and its counter-piece 'There’s Talk Of Mineshafts' highlights Chicago vocalist Katie Todd dueting with Edwards. She plays the perfect Mariel to his Martin. The album gets a little groove in its step with 'A Children's Crusade On Acid' and 'German Motor Car.' 'Cold, Kind And Lemon Eyes' is very reminiscent of the band's debut. 'My Baby (Shoots Her Mouth Off)' is a personal favorite. Its bouncy chorus mixed with the piano and violin-filled verses highlighted by Edward's airy vocals makes for a perfect blend. The album closes with a harmonica ushering in 'As Tall As Lions,' an older song diehard fans may recognize from the band's Queensize demos version although now more bolstered. A very light feeling closer accented by hand claps and beautiful harmonies floating in the background.
As with some of my favorite albums over the past few years (I'm looking at you Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me), it seems distance only makes the heart grow fonder. The time apart between their debut and the new releases has definitely given the band time to grow and truly become a band. The band's broadened horizon gives fans more to attach themselves to and be enamored with. As with any great band, Margot have shifted their sound and all for the better. This is the kind of sound that the band could truly make a career on and I look forward to what the future holds for them (as long as it doesn’t take another 3 years).