Having quickly scanned the cover and picked up on the words, Community Theatre, I must admit that my head went to the obvious place. Here we go, the soundtrack to some local musical theatre production, oh well, it might not be that bad. But as the title track began, I realised how wrong I was, as what I was presented with was music that wouldn’t have been out of place in the quiet part of a Wilco or Son Volt set. you know what they say about books and covers…well, that!
It quickly becomes obvious that this is a set of songs with a narrative thread running through them. It’s the story of Lorelei, a runaway bride who abandons her wedding vows for the questionable embrace of a dive bar called Frankie’s. She spends her time there collecting fragments of strangers’ lives while piecing together her own fractured story.
Not only an enticing story but an album of beguilingly brilliant songs. “Tonight Isn’t Over” is full of big sounds, but is restrained, too. It is full of anticipation and atmosphere but relies on ornate weaves of sound rather than just volume and velocity to impress the listener. And impress it does. “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” wanders into soul-rock territory, a mosaic of clipped guitar licks and heavenly harmonies, and the final offering, “Last Dance,” is a brilliant swansong, big guitars and even bigger sentiments.
Community Theatre is an album of gorgeously meshed sounds, clever sonics, delicious details, and memorable motifs. The songs are woven from myriad strands of sound, but cleverly, none ever getting in the way of the others, all having their moment in the spotlight, everything there to serve the song. And what brilliant songs they are.
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