The Swell Season

I checked out The Swell Season at Bonnaroo this year and they blew me away with their rich and finely textured songs. This first album captures the same spirit, in a sonically richer environment. Highly recommended to any fan of fabulous songwriting and beautiful harmony and melody.

I loved the entire cd. To appreciate the impact of both singers, you might want to view the movie "ONCE". The movie gives a much deeper impact to the songs and artists.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are a dynamic duo. This is hauntingly beautiful and energizing music. Definitely see the movie "Once" as well. This CD shares three songs with the soundtrack to the movie and the other pieces are in the same vein. It's genuine, gutsy music with awesome harmonies and real lyrics. It makes you glad to have ears.

Released before the movie Once popularized the music of the eclectic duo of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Some are earlier versions of numbers heard in Once such as 'Lies' and 'Falling Slowly', but most are original to this album. The title cut is an instrumental (piano) piece. Both albums share a quiet combination of mostly lead guitar and male vocal with vocal and piano highlights from Irglova, although they trade roles from time to time. The music is soulful, relational, reflective at times, angry at times and revolves around real people and situations. Worth a listen.

Love the music, love the voices. My only disappointment was that I didn't realize it was mostly the same as the soundtrack from Once, which I already had. But now there is one for my car and one for my home, so it's all good.