The Antlers – Hospice
This album was released in August of last year, though I just discovered it last month. It immediately became one of my favorites of 2009. It’s not catchy but is very listenable, and as you might guess from the title and album cover, it tells a story. According to Wikipedia, the album tells the story of a man meeting a depressed and abusive bone cancer patient in the Sloan Kettering Cancer Ward where he is working, falling in love, and eventually watching her die while he is beside her. The album opens with an instrumental track (“Prologue”), followed by the album’s highlight, “Kettering,” which sets the dark and mournful tone of the whole album. This is a great record for a gray, wintry day, and it’s the kind of album that needs to be listened to all the way through. Don’t shuffle it, and don’t skip songs. It’s really a phenomenal record. ”Kettering” may be my favorite song of 2009. Other great songs are “Silvia,” “Atrophy” and “Bear.” Enjoy.
