Bomb In A Birdcage (Eco-Pack)

The debut album by A Fine Frenzy, 'One Cell in the Sea', has over the past year or two been gathering an increasingly strong fan base for Alison Sudol and her band. It was an album of poetic, sometimes haunting songs; and the first single from that album, 'Almost Lover', propelled her to stardom, with huge success both in her native America and in continental Europe. For those who might have been expecting her new album to continue in the same style, 'Bomb in a Birdcage', may come as a surprise.

The album cover may contain a hint: gone is the perhaps slightly fragile and shy look of Sudol on 'One Cell in the Sea', and in comes a sassy, in-your-face image of the artist as a determined, daring woman. However, lest I am worrying fans of her debut album, there are some overlaps and similarities in the music. Alison Sudol the poet is still very much there, and the lyrics of the new tracks continue to use beautiful and memorable imagery and expressions. Also, there are some songs that pick up from her earlier style, perhaps in particular 'Happier', 'Bird of the Summer', 'The Beacon' and 'Swan Song'; the latter is an extraordinarily beautiful expression of loss and regret, and one of my favourite tracks. Perhaps the first single from the album, 'Blow Away', is something of a bridge between the old and the new A Fine Frenzy, with powerful melody but also a punchy beat. This song also shows off her strong vocal range, as she manages to deliver part rock anthem and part operatic aria in a song that unites these styles quite easily and very successfully.

And then there are other songs where Sudol makes use of various styles that have informed her music, including jazz, rock and even country. While there isn't a weak song on the album, maybe the two that made me sit up most when I first heard them were 'Electric Twist' and 'We Stood Up'; the first of these is an almost teasing song that starts slowly and builds up, with a punchy beat and a flirtatious theme; while the second is a rock-inspired rallying cry of defiance and determination, but which (as the final line reveals) is a plea for kindness.

Not many singers or bands risk completely new departures after a successful first album. 'Bomb in a Birdcage' is a pure delight because it refuses to allow A Fine Frenzy to be typecast, but at the same time does not refuse to give her fans some of what they have come to treasure. It is a hugely powerful album, supported by songwriting that is clever, astute, enticing, original and simply musical, and driven by a performance from Sudol and her band that is hugely impressive. The musical accompaniment is sophisticated, emphatic where it needs to be but also very subtle in some of the songs - listen to the flutes in 'Bird of the Summer', for example.

This is a must-buy, must-have album.

Bomb in a Birdcage (BIAB) was a 50/50 love/dislike at first; I was surprised at my own reaction. Now? I am listening to it instead of One Cell in the Sea. One Cell was a masterpiece that I would take to a desert island if I only had one CD. It might not ever be recreated - but nor should it be. She's not the same person either. She's changed, I've changed, you've changed since it was recorded. Supposition aside, this record is experimentally-wonderful as the first. I was expecting One Cell in the Sea Part Two. So when I heard BIAB I was a bit mentally confused. The reason being, I think, is the use of syntisizers (sp?) and a heavier drum beat in some of the songs you don't associate the first record with. But I can just about nearly promise you if you listen to it a few times, you'll start getting hooked on this song - then that song - then pretty soon you're in love with all of it.

I thank all the people who took time to actually listen to this record a few times before reviewing. In particular a lady who said she was doing a marathon on her bike, i think, and she listened to 'elements' over and over and just loved it. My daughter, too, didn't like One Cell at all -- but I just, down stairs, heard her listening to "Happier" from BIAB, which I love, too. I was kind of starting to wonder if my 13 yo had any taste at all but catching her listening to AFF gave me hope for her lol. This record is epicly-grand. It's bigger than One Cell which was quieter and sweeter, and frankly, perfect in every possible way. BIAB, tho, like fine wine or diamonds-mined, takes a little time to appreciate - not becuase it's a pill you need to swallow, but because it is deeper, bigger, grander, and perhaps more evocative in places than it's predecessor. Much of us don't like wine when we first taste it. But like AFF's new album, as our palates evolve in sophistication, the more you appreciate A Fine Frenzy and it's etheral, monumental loveliness.

I usually go for strange, arty music, and it's rare that I enjoy what I think of as "music for Target ads". It's not easy to create music with such simple, sweet melodies, without it being dull and uninspired. But Alison Sudol did it once, and now she's done it again. The great opening track has me bobbing my head and humming along, and the album continues to hold my interest all the way through the beautiful closer "Beacon", with just a couple tracks in the middle that drag a bit. Bomb in a Birdcage couldn't have been released at a more appropriate time of year, because it's perfect music for late summer and fall.