The Swell Season – Strict Joy

I have always been beyond hesitant to call any of my posts “reviews”. For one, I’m not much of a writer, for two, I am basically just trying to tell you about a record that I really like, so I don’t feel the need to dress it up as anything more journalistic and formal than that. I said all that to say this: I really freaking love the new The Swell Season (Official / Myspace) album! Strict Joy (Anti-) is a fabulous follow up to the smash Once Movie Soundtrack that really put Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova on the map as a duo. These unassuming Europeans won not only many fans with that movie, but took home the Academy Award for Best Song with “Falling Slowly”.

Strict Joy has a cohesive and solid feel throughout, as it is clearly an album made to be a complete and involved work and not for fitting into various moods and scenes of a movie. The opening track, “Low Rising”, is a Van Morrison-esque folk song that exemplifies what works best on this record. The bold, primal vocal of Hansard takes command of every song, even at the times where the performance is a tad subdued. As expected, there are some sweet harmonies showcased here as well. “In These Arms” not only forces you sit still and take notice, but how can you help but think about the back story involved with these two artists. Having split-apart after a good bit of time together romantically, it’s amazing that the artistic chemistry lives on, perhaps stronger now than when they were linked. Most of the songs are about love in one form or another, and that’s just as well with me. While I am sure each of them have fascinating insights into other areas of the human condition and world-affairs, it’s clear that they have an extraordinary ability to convey truth in their heartbreak as well as in their joy. Man, I love this album. How ’bout that for a review? 28 stars out of 10. 3 thumbs up….

Below are some related Swell Season goodies that have popped up around the internet recently…

• Glen and Marketa recently popped into the NPR offices for a “Tiny Desk Concert”

• You have until Oct 27th to Swell Sealisten to a FULL-ALBUM STREAM of Strict Joy…

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Tags: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Once, Swell Season