Monkey Swallows the Universe: The Casket Letters

Monkey Swallows the Universe: The Casket Letters
not yet released in the U.S.

I wrote a review for this album on my cell phone on my way to work this morning, but I lost it somehow. That's probably a good thing, since my review sucked. It's difficult for me to articulate why I like an album sometimes, especially at 5:30 in the morning. My review didn't say much about why I was recommending The Casket Letters or what distinguishes this particular indie pop band from the legions of indie pop bands flooding the market with pleasant but insignificant treacle.

There are several ways that a band can stand out from the pack. One way is with well-executed over-the-top weirdness, as is the case with acts like Xiu Xiu and Danielson, but this is a dangerous path. Most groups can't make it work. Another way is to be a little more meticulous and talented, to spend a little more effort refining songs, while treading a well-worn path. Monkey Swallows the Universe have chosen the latter course. They could have settled with just making a pretty album, but there are hundreds of pretty but mutually indistinguishable albums being released. On The Casket Letters, Monkey Swallows the Universe crafted ten songs that are not merely pleasant, but intelligent and refined. It's clear they have spent a lot of time and effort working on the lyrics, melodies and instrumentation, until everything was satisfactory to their own high standards. Their efforts have paid off handsomely, both for the band and for the listener.