Name: Drop Dead, Gorgeous
Album: Worse Than A Fairy Tale, 2007
Welcome to Saylor Lake
Firstly, I should just point out that this is not metal. So don't complain that it isn't.
This is, by a long way, one of my favourite albums of all time. It is nothing short of a masterpiece. It is not tuneful. It is not melodic. It is not harmonic. But, by gum, it's pretty much perfect.
Its a concept album based around a serial killer, who lives in the (fictional) town of Saylor Lake. His - or her - murders are each the subject of a single track. And, with that in mind, you can perhaps understand why harmony or melody are not top of the list in writing this - it's designed, much like Psycho Killer by Talking Heads, to get inside the mind of someone who's slightly insane. You need discordance to create that effect.
The album's first killer track, if you'll pardon the pun, is the second track, Drawing The Devil. It has the perfect combination of chaotic drums and squealing guitar, but then eerie hushes as the vocalist whispers words which whisk down your spine ans send shivers sliding down your shirt. It's brilliant.
Another example of what Drop Dead, Gorgeous are capable of - when they're not in school - is found in the closing track. Once again, there is a combination of haunting lyrics with echoing bass, and then the crashing of cymbals and shrieking of slaughtered guitars. Then, with the piano, the aforementioned shivers once again return, and you spend the next week checking behind doors, and keeping clear of all water, just in case it's Saylor Lake.
The album continues in similar fashion, which creates a twofold effect: First, it means you can listen to the album straight through completely content, and second, if you're one of those blasphemers who use the 'shuffle' function - which I cannot condemn enough - then it means that if any of these songs comes up, your fingers don't fly instantly to the skip button.
Summary: A horrifying album which will have you listening to track after track on repeat.
Lyrical Themes: Serial killing
Rating:9/10
Track listing:
1. Red Or White Wine?
2. Drawing The Devil
3. The Pleasure To End All Pleasures
4. Worse Than A Fairy Tale
5. They'll Never Get Me (Word With You)
6. It Sounded Like An Accident
7. 45223
8. It's Pretty Hard To Beat The King
9. Donner Party Of Five
10. Saylor Lake
11. Bye Bye Blues (The Whole West Coast Is Ruined)
12. I Want To Master Life And Death
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This is definitely worth a visit. Very helpful in exploring the songs.
Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteAmazing record!!