A review of Quiet Company's May 11, 2010 release,
Songs for Staying In
Songs for Staying In
(my husband wants me to tell you he likes the cover art.)Songwriter/Frontman Taylor Muse wrote in his blog recently that the songs on this EP are love songs that weren’t good enough to make it onto the last album but that were good enough for people to hear. I think he’s selling these songs short; while the EP is a short collection of sweet love songs, there is a gentleness and a timelessness to each song- specifically the lyrics. Each song on the album is extremely relatable and will give your heartstrings a tug.
How Do You Do It?
I have been anxiously waiting for this song to be released. I’d heard it twice live, and so it has been stuck in my head since February. Here Muse reveals his Beatles influence, delivering that perfect balance of “catchy” and “timeless” that most musicians never achieve. One thing to note about this song and the EP in general is that Quiet Company is making great use of vocal and choral harmonies. I can also attest to the fact that this song is just as awesome live.
Things You Already Know
Of the songs on the EP I hadn’t already heard, this is probably my favorite. There’s a very retro feel to the way the song opens, like it’s coming out of an antique radio. In the video released this Monday the band revealed that this vocal track with effect was a last minute addition and Paul was not a fan at first. Clearly Taylor has better judgment than Paul because it’s awesome. In the video, Taylor says that this song has the best production on the EP, and I’d have to agree. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite Quiet Company songs.
Hold My Head Above The Water
Long story short, this song will definitely be played at my wedding. I’m not sure what higher praise I can give it. This song is as close to perfection in a love song as I’ve ever heard. Muse’s wife, Leah sings harmony with him on this track and the only way to describe their voices together is “hypnotic.” The song is simple both lyrically and musically which allows the vocal properties to shine. The song is smooth, tender, and effortless. If you can listen to this song without getting sentimental then you are definitely a robot. You should get that checked out.
Jezebel or 'A Song For My Friend About That Whore He Dated'
How do you not love a song with a title like that? The tone of this song is entirely different from the rest of the album: a little harder, a little louder, a little more bare. The turn from “I’m leaving” to “come back to me” is heartbreakingly familiar to anyone who has ever loved a dirtbag. The band has stated that they aren’t going to translate most of the EP into live performance, which is a shame. This song would rock live.
If You Want
In my last review I remarked on how cinematic some of Quiet Company’s songs are, and I think this song is a great new example of that. I can see this song being a great addition to a movie soundtrack. Not only that, but this is a perfect “slow dance” song. The poetry of the line “I shudder to think of all the horrible things I could be if I'd never have held you” breaks my heart. The ending of this song is incredibly moving, and the percussion driving through the song is perfectly executed.
The Biblical Sense of the Word
This is a gorgeous track. I’m a sucker for a good piano song and this is a great piano song. It reminds me of the best of “Everyone You Love…;” in my review of that album I made the statement that what won me over about Quiet Company was the lyrics, and this is a great example of why. Muse stated on his formspring recently that his most deeply held belief is that Love is transformative and beautiful. This song is a perfect manifesto for that belief. “We make our lives worth living when we love each other.” Indeed.
So that’s the EP. I loved it. You will too. Go to www.quietcompanymusic.com where every week they’re releasing a song from the EP as well as a video of them chatting about that week’s song. Listen. Watch. If you have good taste you’ll fall head over heels in love with them instantly. After that you’ll want to pre-order the EP, which will get you all the songs in a digital download right away. After that you’ll want to go to their May 7th EP release concert at Encore in Austin.
I’ve been a fan of Quiet Company since 2007 and I’ve stayed a loyal and active fan for two reasons: 1) they are amazing musicians 2) they are amazing people. It is truly a joy being their fan. But don’t listen to me… listen to their music.
