The Pelican’s Perch

Bombadil’s third release, Tarpits and Canyonlands, was sent to me about a week ago with the usual promo sheet and a hand cut-out picture of a Carnivale Cruise boat that had a note from Bryan on the back telling me a big thanks for listening.  Stuff like that are why I love interacting with and helping up and coming bands.  It just makes it more fun that way.  Suffice it to say, I popped their newest release in my cd player and sat silently in excitement to hear what they had in store this go around.  If it was anything like their last release, A Buzz A Buzz, which made it high on my top 50 list last year, then I would be more than happy.  Luckily for all of us that it ended up surpassing my high hopes by a mile, which is saying a lot. (rest of the review after the jump)

Just like their previous album, this new one has that quirky feel that I can’t quite pinpoint with the correct description.  Sometimes I get this Celtic/Irish feel to their music, which I know isn’t right since they’re from Durham, NC, but some songs feel like the Decemberists style, only if they cheered up quite a bit and played more pubs and St. Patty’s Day parades.  That could simply be because of the strings and heavy folk base to their tunes, or I guess it could be just me as well.

There was a few quotes on their promo sheet that I agreed whole-heartedly with.  The first being from Q Magazine, which describes Bombadil as “charmingly odd”.  I’d say that’s a fitting description.  But it was what the Washington Post said that struck a chord with me.  “…Clearly has the heart of a dozen hipster ‘it; bands.”  That quote I can stand behind.  Anytime I talk to them online, they’re always more than happy to send me something or pass along info about their new tunes.  Usually, it’s the band that contacts me randomly simply to see what’s up, which is pretty rare nowadays.

I have an obvious bias, because I like the guys in the band as much as I like their music, but this new album really is great.  Much like the last album, Tarpits begins with “I Am”, a song barely a minute and a half that is mainly the band singing acapella on top of a piano line.  It’s simple, but always puts a smile on my face and does it’s job setting up the second song, “Sad Birthday”, which is a foot stomping, hand clapping, piano pounding song that is the true opener that kicks off what’s to come throughout the album.

If you’ve never heard of Bombadil before now, I’d recommend you start with this new album and work backwards.  They’re really at the top of their game with this new release, with songs like “Sad Birthday”, “Honeymoon”, “Reasons”, and “Kate and Kelsey” standing out among the year’s best songs.  I enjoy the album all the way through, but I’ve favored the slower songs lately and can’t get enough of them.  The last two songs I just mentioned are probably the best two songs on the album, and I almost hesitate to say that because Bombadil are known mainly for their energetic, upbeat songs, but it’s never a bad thing when an energetic band can write slower songs that are just as good as anything else.

I’ll end this review with one last reason you should check it out.  It was recorded with Scott Solter, who is best known for being John Vanderslice’s right hand man at JV’s Tiny Telephone recording studio, and has recorded numerous albums for Vanderslice, the Mountain Goats, Spoon, and Okkervil River to name a few.  You can hear his influence all over this new album.

Tarpits and Canyonlands is released July 7th on Ramseur Records and I suggest all of you head over to their site and PRE-ORDER it now!

Bombadil
Tarpits and Canyonlands
Perch Score: 9.489/10

1. I Am
2. Sad Birthday
3. Honeymoon
4. Reasons [mp3]

5. Cold Runway
6. Oto the Bear [mp3]

7. Prologue
8. So Many Ways to Die
9. Marriage
10. Laurita
11. Kuala Lumpur
12. Pyramid
13. 25 Daniels
14. Matthew
15. Kate and Kelsey
Official Site / Myspace