Quick Before it Melts

Tuesday 02 June 2009

Life during wartime

It’s taking me some time to come around to the new Apostle of Hustle album, Eats Darkness.  Andrew Whiteman has called AoH’s third album “a serial poem about some struggles people go through,” and to that end, he’s definitely made sure this album isn’t an easy listen.  From the sonic vignettes that blend spoken word, movie clips and found sounds into bookmarks along the treacherous route through “a fucked and beautiful world.”

With moments like “How to Defeat a More Powerful Enemy” simultaneously calling to mind Belle & Sebastian-style indie-pop lite and Broken Social experimentation, Eats Darkness is not an album without charms, but Whiteman and the Apostle of Hustle crew have never been ones to sugar coat their pop confections.  “I drink rain and piss out acid,” he laments on “Eazy Speaks”, and I don’t know whether to cringe or laugh.  While nothing has caught my attention quite like the brilliant “My Sword Hand’s Anger” from their last album The National Anthem of Nowhere, the jaunty “Blackberry” comes pretty close to approximating that swing and swagger that make Apostle of Hustle such a compelling act.

And a supportive one, too.  The band recently sent out word they’re looking for local acts to open shows for them along their North American tour route, and have gathered up a fantastic roster of support acts that don’t usually get this kind of opportunity.  You can check out their tour dates by going here.

MP3: Apostle of Hustle “Perfect Fit”
Myspace: Apostle of Hustle
Buy: Apostle of Hustle Eats Darkness

by J. Di Gioia | 3 Comments »

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 8:00 am and is filed under MP3. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.