...The Deals They Made

ORIGINAL MUSIC REVIEWS

ARTIST - CURSE IN THE WOODS
GENRE / STYLE - JAZZ / DARK MUSICAL JAZZ
CD REVIEW - ... THE DEALS THEY MADE
COPYRIGHT 2012 - PRODUCTIONS CURSE IN THE WOODS
PRODUCED BY - SAM HARVEY & PASCALE SCALABRINI
 
CURSE IN THE WOODS ...The Deals They Made
 
In my town, the cold winds are starting to blow down from the north. They come imported from Canada. The nights are getting longer and darker. There is a drab dampness in the air. All the trees and plants are turning various bright or dark colors. The end of this month brings an event many celebrate with theatrics, masks, and candy. Curse In The Woods latest CD ...The Deals They Made, was made for this time of year. At times it can be purposely eerie, cold, and dark. It is filled with colorful swirling winds theatrical directions and dark drama. At times it can feel like a masquerade ball and at the end it is filled with treats for the ears.

What the Hell is Dark Musical Jazz ? How else can I describe the music on the CD ... The Deals They Made by Curse In The Woods ? It doesn't fit neatly into any of the music compartments, but it has a Jazz taste with European classical components. This is not music to dance too unless maybe you and your partner wish to try and Tango to some of it. This is not music to have a group sing-a-long unless you are a vampire pirate in a vampire pirate's tavern during Oktoberfest. This is not music to jam on the way to school or work unless you are Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, or Tim Burton. The music is mostly dark and it has various elements of Jazz throughout. So, for lack of a better term, (as the Music Police arrest me and bring me to Music Court) I'm gonna make a name of a music style up and call it... Dark Musical Jazz.

...The Deals They Made is a spellbinding twist on Jazz with a bite of tension. The music on this album seemed to be designed within the context of a musical, opera, or a screen play. At times it has music that can be sinisterly haunting and the lyrics can speak of pending danger. At first listen, my hair stood on the back of my neck. My mind kept rebooting, as I processed what I was listening too. I had to decide if the music was scary or good. As I soaked in the acquired taste, I kept coming back to one answer : these tunes are both scary AND good.

 

"The Beast" click here for video   
Even before I found the video online, the first couple of times that I listened to "the Beast" as well as a few other tracks of of the album, I was thinking Rocky Horror Picture Show. The feel is similar to what the music from the Rocky Horror Picture Show did to 70's brand of American Rock 'n Roll Musicals. "The Beast" gives Jazz Musicals an update with a violin and other European sounds. It has a bit of campy horror tongue in cheek feel, musically. Great violin solo. (This video is my evidence to the Music Court.)

"Curse In The Woods" click here for audio
Whenever an artist shares their name with a title of a song, it is a capsule encasing what they are musically all about. The song "Curse In The Woods" is a good example of the direction of the rest of this album. The intro has a sinister feel of a carnival of theatrics. This tune is piano driven. The strings amplify the piano's tension. Another dark presentation. (Some audio evidence for my defence of my claim of Dark Musical Jazz)

"Perfect Lawns" 
Is another song which could be used in a musical or in a movie. It is a visual aide. It has a feel of the culturally well groomed. The old subject of a trophy wife with current lyrics "lock all your windows like they tell you on CNN" everything looks good on the outside but not on the inside. Vocally soft presentation adds to the piece.




(My closing arguments to the Music Court:)
Jeannie Taylor's lyrics and vocal presentation are a common person's inner feelings on display. Mostly of a tortured soul yearning for safety and comfort. At times the lyrics are telling a story. Other times it is warning everyone of a twisted fate which is coming around the corner. The lyrics together with the vocals work very well within the dynamic of the art of this music medium, even if you don't want to call it Dark Musical Jazz.

Sam Harvey is responsible for the music and the arrangements. His work on this album is the definition of what a musical composition should be. It is thought out and full of emotion. It has a bit of Jazz mixed with European Classical Standard. It all is covered with a theatrical spin, fill with tension, drama and at times a dose of melancholy. If you are looking for something without basic guitar power chords, then this album is for you. It is power chord free.

A good recording and sound mix simply gets out of the way and lets the music be the art. A great sound mix adds slightly to help one focus on the art itself. The Deals They made has a great recording and sound mix. The post production on this album is one of this years best. The mix is as good as any high budgeted movie sound track. I dare anyone to find flaws or mistakes. It is easy for me to visualise some of these songs. They could be heard in a Broadway musical or as background music on a TV show or as the credits roll at the end of a major motion picture. This is due to the fine work of all of the musicians on the album plus the recording & post production of Francois-Regis Page, Joel Grelier, and Gactan Pilon.
 
WARNING: This CD is not recommended to be heard while drinking alcohol and/or taking depressants. One should never play the CD on rainy days or on grey days or on days when feeling blue or melancholy. However, if you have a strong will, are willing to acquire an original acquired taste, you enjoy instrumentals with a dark slant on theatrical presentation along with a common persons lyrics and you aren't afraid of the dark then ...The Deals They Made is for you. It is both scary and good. I will call it Dark Musical Jazz. (I rest my case. Now you be the Judge.)

 
-Alex
Original  Music  Reviews
www.OriginalMusicReviews.BlogSpot.com
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