Murder by Death - Good Morning, Magpie (2010)

Murder by Death’s fifth full-length album is to be released on April 6^th. From the first listen, I immediately found it to be another strong addition to their catalog. Their most immediate quality is Adam Turla’s voice, which is rich, soulful, and very deep. The band’s use of an electric cello also adds immensely to their sound, lending it depth and creating a darker mood than the music would otherwise have. Good Morning, Magpie has more of a Western/Country feel than their past albums, although that style has always influenced their sound to some degree, though perhaps never as much as in their last two albums. Songs like “As Long as There is Whiskey in the World” and “Yes” are good examples, showing the band as blatantly western as they get, with catchy melodies, Turla’s great voice, and a moodier overall style. Some songs have a lounge vibe, such as “Piece by Piece” and “You Don’t Miss Twice (When You’re Shaving With a Knife).” On these songs they use horn sections and bass melodies to create something both upbeat and dark. “The Day” closes the album with a bang as the song’s lively percussion, rumbling bass, well-placed piano notes, and Turla’s relatively amped-up vocals all work together so well making it one of the best songs on the album, and in their discography. I once heard someone describe this band as a cross between Johnny Cash and Cursive, and although that doesn’t completely capture their sound, it’s not far off. Murder by Death create a tense atmosphere, with their cello and guitar sound, similar to Cursive. However, unlike Tim Kasher’s dramatic, highly emotional singing style, Adam Turla doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve. His songs, first of all, tend to be in the form of stories, rather than diary entries, and his vocals are understated, sung in a voice that is closer to talking than howling. When Turla does sing “loud” he still doesn’t sound like he’s straining himself to do so. Turla doesn’t exactly sound like Johnny Cash either, but like Cash, his deep, distinctive voice has an odd sort of charm to it. It’s really a joy to hear, although I tend to enjoy low-voiced singers. This album definitely has that old western feel, but it also has an ominous tone to it, which makes it unique and worth checking out. It's not easy to describe this band in terms of who they remind me of. It should suffice to say the music has significant depth to it, is often moody, but has a fun aspect as well, has the flavor of country music without being country, and uses its instrumentation to maximum effect. This band’s meticulous songwriting, coupled with their unique sound, and strong melodies make Good Morning, Magpie one of the best albums I’ve heard in recent memory. This isn’t just a unique album, but it’s one of five from a unique band, who have given me no reason not to expect their next album to be gold.

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