The Tiger Lillies with Kronos Quartet
The Gorey End


3.5
great

Review

by DoofusWainwright USER (99 Reviews)
March 23rd, 2017 | 32 replies


Release Date: 2003 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A Classical Mix Up

While the idea of The Tiger Lillies backed by classical instrumentation reads for an interesting proposition on paper, the reality is that this addition also demands for a number of unfortunate and unavoidable associated musical calibrations. Firstly Martyn Jaques sticks to his most operatic delivery throughout, and regretfully this makes for one of the band's most overly rich confections. Secondly the pace here is generally very very slow, very very deliberate, and very very samey.

Sometimes the combo works well, as with the sweeping 'Weeping Chandelier', the song that finally ignites the album after two low key opening tracks. This tune feels a natural fit with all the added classical bells and whistles, revelling in the grandiosity. 'The Besotted Mother' is primarily a success due to the strength of the storytelling, but that's not to say the pomposity of the titular character isn't also perfectly reflected by the backing instrumentation, further adding to the song's charm.

The remaining standouts see the music pared back to the usual Lillies style; the closing 'Hipdeep Family' is an understated gem that finally allows Jaques to take a breather from singing at glass shattering pitch; the catchiest tune 'Gin' really swings with organ and musical saw pepping up the arrangement no end; and 'Learned Pig' applies the strings with a much lighter touch than elsewhere and reaps the benefits. Sadly this more traditional Lillies material makes a very strong case that the Kronos Quartet are an unconvincing and unnecessary embellishment here, merely adding an unappealing stuffiness to proceedings while stifling compositional variety.

So just to clarify, what works here is truly excellent, though overall this release registers as an unsatisfying experiment that too easily gets locked into the one groove. For sure this approach could hit your sweet spot dead on, in which case great; just be wary that if it doesn't you might find yourself tempted to switch it off way before the gorey end.



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user ratings (3)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
DoofusWainwright
March 23rd 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

5 everything, Doof for staff, the quest continues

AngryLittleAlchemist
March 23rd 2017


2167 Comments



Recent reviews by this author
The Tiger Lillies The Brothel to the Cemetery The Tiger Lillies Circus Songs
The Tiger Lillies Ad Nauseam The Tiger Lillies Bad Blood + Blasphemy
The Tiger Lillies Births, Marriages and Deaths The Tiger Lillies Freakshow

AngryLittleAlchemist
March 23rd 2017


2167 Comments


I don't know Doofus, you're a fantastic writer and I can see you're going places! But you cover the mainstream far too often. And all of this serious pretentious blabble bobbody cock. For once I think you need to cover something fun and obscure and not so depressing!

Na but in all seriousness review reads nice

DoofusWainwright
March 23rd 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Join the protest ALA



I might review something by another band soon...but it'll be on an alt account

AngryLittleAlchemist
March 23rd 2017


2167 Comments


Remember Doof Brother, One List Per Day, One Review Per Day, One Account Per Day!

DoofusWainwright
March 23rd 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

10 accounts today



You must have about the same ;P

AngryLittleAlchemist
March 23rd 2017


2167 Comments


Gosh darnit I miss my allah account.

Bring back allah!

DoofusWainwright
March 23rd 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Honestly, when I've reviewed over 30 Tiger Lillies albums I think you'll get it then.



A sput masterpiece unlike any other, the best joke ever told, etc

AngryLittleAlchemist
March 23rd 2017


2167 Comments


They have 32 on their one and 33 including this one! I know you can do it buddy!

Yeah rip alt

AngryLittleAlchemist
March 23rd 2017


2167 Comments


I feel like an early Tiger Lillies review comment section is more like a breakfast inn

I'll take some sugar with my coffee

DoofusWainwright
March 23rd 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah, RIP that account, your best ever alt



Settle in bud, you can have a couple of waffles on the house

AngryLittleAlchemist
March 23rd 2017


2167 Comments


Let's see if I can make a better alt next time :]

or you know ... actually contribute to the site. Either / Or.

Divaman
March 23rd 2017


16120 Comments


Do you have any of those stale mini-bagels that go in the toaster?

Wow, this is an interesting team up, huh? (Tiger Lillies and Kronos Quartet, not you and ALA. Although that's kind of interesting too, especially if I get some breakfast out of it).

DoofusWainwright
March 23rd 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Stale mini-bagels? You prefer them stale? I guess this can be arranged at the Doof breakfast inn, we accommodate all sorts.



Diva I wish I liked this one more, but loads of people seem to love it just fine so probably just me.

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
March 23rd 2017


10453 Comments


A review of something not entirely Lillies?! Reported.

Another nice review, and this does sound like a perfect blend of sounds.

I have a little issue with the review; it assumes prior knowledge of the Lillies and their sound, so it may unfortunately be an uninformative read for those that haven't kept up with your coverage of the band, especially considering the thesis is that this = Lillies + classical, whilst not really telling the reader what The Lillies sound like. However, given the obscurity of this release, I doubt many reading this will lack the required knowledge to make sense of it, so my point is rather pointless.

DoofusWainwright
March 23rd 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Thanks AitB - yeah, I've decided not to describe their sound in depth every review, I didn't really do that for my 'Freakshow' review either. I think most of my remaining Lillies reviews will be a similar format, short and sweet.



I'll extend the reviews for the ones that really grab me - got the 'Lulu' one (sample lyric: "do you masturbate over the corpses Jack? Do you have a nice old wank?") and the album about bestiality arriving next so they'll prob inspire me :D

AngryLittleAlchemist
March 23rd 2017


2167 Comments


This description sounds like the hardest 2.5 ever

Like even the way you describe the great songs make it seem like they're not necessary if you're already a lillies fan. Not that that's an injustice to your reviewing doof, I'm just very picky with my rates : D

TwigTW
March 23rd 2017


3939 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I thought that looked like an Edward Gorey Illustration on the album cover. Looks like they used unpublished Gorey Stories to inspire the lyrics--similar style , but so much tamer than the usual Lillies.

Divaman
March 23rd 2017


16120 Comments


It's not so much that I prefer them stale -- I've just never stayed in a breakfast inn where they were available any other way. Perhaps we're not totally under the same impression as to what constitutes a breakfast inn?

DoofusWainwright
March 23rd 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

ALA my average rating score is a 3, I'm not too loose with those scores.



This has 6 songs which are def essential as a Lillies fan - 'Gin', 'Besotted' and 'Chandelier' are unique sounding for them too



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