“What if you could choose your fate like choosing a song on a jukebox? What if your finger slipped and you got the B-side instead? What if you misunderstood the meaning of the dang song to begin with?”
According to frontman and songwriter Ben Schneider, that’s the premise of Lord Huron‘s new album – The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1. The album hosts a stunning array of musicians backing Schneider exploring the idea of choosing one’s fate or just letting it play out and seeing what happens.
On the opener, “Looking Back,” Schneider just wants “nothin’ but a lonesome, quiet place where I can think” or “a noisy, crowded place where I can drink” – depending on the circumstances. It’s a sorrowful tale about loss, either from a breakup or a death. Speaking as a widower, this one hit hard (“Something changed the day you left and I’ll never know just what. I’ll spend my whole life looking up and wondering who I am.”).
“Bag of Bones” is a sharp standout as Schneider sings about how his former lover is better off without him (“I believed you’d never get far without me. How wrong I was in the end.”). The rhythm of the track is undeniable and gets deep into you. “I got everything I want and I’ve got nothing that I need,” he sings on “Nothing I Need.” It’s a tale of an ego trap, of chasing the Alan Watts “golden goodie” that never can be caught and never brings true happiness. The country twang builds into a foot-stomping beat that barely hides the blues lyrics.
“Is There Anybody Out There?” isn’t a cover of the Pink Floyd song of the same name, but rather a song about Schneider and his bandmates Mark Barry, Miguel Briseño, and Tom Renaud seeking fellow humans who might need help along their journey (“We haven’t met, but I wrote this song for you.”). “Who Laughs Last” features actress Kristen Stewart telling a tale of traveling through the American southwest through a series of places that might not be real. “The Comedian” is a tale of a faded star who only wants “to see my name in the lights again,” but knows deep down that time and fame are ephemeral.
“Watch Me Go” is a story of someone walking away from a relationship, friendship, or some other bond that the protagonist no longer wants and won’t miss. It, like all the songs on the album, are mini-stories or characters who might be Schneider or his bandmates or might be fictional. After all, the band has built an entire universe of characters and stories based around their music.
“Fire Eternal” teams up the band with Kazu Makino from Blonde Redhead sharing the vocals on a sultry and quirky tale of fiery passion. “It All Comes Back,” with its simple yet powerful Radiohead-like piano chords, is a story of karma and might be the one that most encapsulates the “What if you could choose your fate?” theme of the album with lyrics like “I can’t be sure, but I’ve seen this before. When you walk through the door, which way will you go?”
“Used to Know” has Schneider begging a former lover to remember what they had together and to run away with it if they ever finds someone like that again. “Digging Up the Past” is a mournful story of someone who can’t (or won’t) move away from something long gone (another dominant theme on the album). The harmonica and slide guitar on it are outstanding. The closing track, “Life Is Strange,” seems perfect for the record. The album is full of weird stories, odd characters, and is about a jukebox in a mythical forest that you can use to determine your fate…but be careful what you wish for as it might not be what you expect.
The whole album isn’t what you expect, but then again it kind of is.
Keep your mind open.
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[Thanks to Patrick at Pitch Perfect PR.]
