Cursive - The Ugly Organ (Saddle Creek, 2003)

Cursive
The Ugly Organ
Saddle Creek
2003

Rating: 7 handwriting samples out of 10

I didn’t think it was possible for Cursive to adequately follow up the genius that was their last full length "Domestica". But "The Ugly Organ", while not better than it’s predecessor, is damn close to being as good as it. Like the previous record, this too is a concept album - instead of exploring the trials and tribulations of a failed marriage, it follows our protagonist down the trail a little farther and watches him struggle through life a single man again. I’m usually the sort who pays more attention to the music than the lyrics of a song, but I’ll be damned if the words presented here don’t prick up my ears and make me listen a little more closely. It should also be noted that since the last album, Cursive has added a cellist to the mix which gives many of the songs a unique twist from what you might have previously expected from the band, at times almost sounding like someone infused the group with a little Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Well worth a listen.