ALBUM: When By The Ruins I Run Past
I'll say this for NBD, they really know how to suck the life out of room.
I stumbled upon this album whilst leafing through a stack of CDs I was trying to avoid reviewing, and was struck by the sense of foreboding in the album art. Before I ever slid it into the ole CD-player, I knew I was in for something extraordinary. And I was not mistaken. National Book Development describes themselves as "the only heavy-metal accordion trio touring South Georgia today", and ten minutes alone with their music made it clear why this is so. NBD is truly sui generis - and that's a good thing.
Singer, songwriter and lead accordionist Jeremy Schlapfmeinst penned all the songs, produced every track and served as both photographer and model for the album art. In addition, he also is the legal guardian of fellow-bandmates Gerhard Muddschlinger and Helga McPhly. (Both are currently out of prison on a work-release program and have been remanded to Schlapfmeinst's custody.) Their dark, brooding style reflects the complex relationships the three band members are negotiating. Out of this volatile mix of talent and angst, National Book Development has crafted a CD chock-full of the most depressing tunes this side of "Bela Legosi's Greatest Hits". The title cut, When By The Ruins Oft I Past, opens with a haunting accordion lick reminiscent of the best work of Benny Goodman, assuming of course that Benny Goodman played the baritone-accordion and was blasted out of his mind on Jack Daniels and oxycodine. The rest of the album builds upon the themes of lost love, personal estrangement and nerdish awkwardness that only an accordion player could truly understand.
Or so I've been told.
Who Might Like It: Goths, Aging Polish Divorcees, bored teens who will listen to anything depressing
2 Stars
No comments:
Post a Comment