I couldn’t be sure that I loved this record simply on the grounds that it was truly a genius collection of songs, tenderly arranged, and wonderfully presented. Or was it that I happened to listen to this record when I was feeling quite happy with my life? Would these fifteen tracks withstand my occasional bouts with mundane tragedy? After hearing that the planter I crumpled with my car while backing out of a driveway last week will now cost me over $1k to replace, with mixed feelings,  I can confidently report that yes, indeed, Bombadil‘s Tarpits and Canyonlands is a record to love in good times and bad. It went into my ears the moment I got the news and I played it over and over that day and every day since, and every day before that,  since it arrived in my post box.

I honestly am obsessed with these songs. And I say that because they are songs, not parts of a big story like some groups have been doing with albums. No, Bombadil have put out beautiful, folksy, sing-a-long songs. They’re little packets of musical wonder, full up with guitars and piano and tambourines and three guys singing at the top of their lungs. You see, Bryan, Daniel and James’ album has been described as their “Broadway” album, in that there’s lots of emphasis on vocals, like in a musical. And that nails it right on the head. And for a band that’s named after a hobbit, no, I’ve been corrected, Tom Bombadil was emphatically not a hobbit, but the oldest being, perhaps an angel or even god, according to wiki (thanks Charles!)  Tarpits and Canyonlands does have a fantastical feel to it and yet it also seems quite cozy — down to earth, with such earnest and tender voices. But in a truly Southern way, this record is equally as dark and bitter as it is light and fun. Some of these songs have skeletons rattling around in their closets… I just feel it.

The fanciful first, then we’ll tackle the dark. It’s a little hard to describe but how else can one take lyrics such as these…
“Oto The Bear”

oto the bear slept by the stream
oto the bear couldn’t come clean
fish dance the disco of bear dreams
get up get up get up get up woo

oto the bear played by the thicket
oto the bear just couldn’t kick it
berries crushed microphones concert ticket
get up get up get up get up woo

oto take a chance
you gotta be gotta be taking a chance
get up get up get up get up

oto the bear they are coming to see
strapped to the cage of the magnolia tree
oto the bear they are coming to look
brought by the idea that souls can be shook

oto the bear, he’s oto the bear

…and make them into a magical song with soaring vocals and a maddeningly changing tempo. The percussion, that is so characteristic of Bombadil, is what drives this song to utter brilliance. It’s a rather simple melody, wrapped around  words that halfway make a story, all sung with an affected aristocratic accent and high pitched backing vocals. But the piano keys are struck forcefully and the drumming is comprised of both high hat bass drum and some sort of small clicky sounding thing (canastas?) none of which are played at the same time very much. By alternating the percussion this way the song is light and bounces along nicely, carried by the interplay of vocals with words which are almost secondary. It’s lovely.

However, the shining star of this album, for me, has to be “Sad Birthday” because it is so whimsical and just so very wrong. Handclaps, mad crazy piano bashing, and a wonderful build that is accentuated by something that must be a dying whale; it’s soooo sad! You find yourself elated by the tune, curious over that low, sad noise and then wondering who is this person who’s birthday was forgotten? It’s dreadful and hilarious and wonderful! [edit: I've heard from Bryan who tells me the source of those mysterious whale sounds, "that's Daniel playing the bass with an improvised slide, plus whale sonar (the phone ringing type sound) from a broken synthesizer setting." How cool is that, darlings!?!]

Don’t write this record off as just some indie kids pot-induced silliness though! Not all songs are touched by fancy, remember what I said about the dark, brooding, bitterness. “Matthew” is a beautiful song, and a simple vehicle for stark memories of an old and not always kind friend. With only piano and voice, the barest whisper of harmony here and there, this tune is emotionally sharp if you really listen to the words, yet has such a sweet and infectious melody. Like others on this record, it’s as if Bombadil want to feed us poisoned lollipops and see how many licks it takes before we taste the bitter center. The guitar and piano dance on “Honeymoon,” another favorite song of mine. Strings take over halfway through and the resulting crescendo is fucking fantastic.Turn this one up, then once you’ve listened to it a few times go back and hear the lyrics. As high as you feel from the clashing of cymbals. and strings and piano chords and snare drum, you will feel equally low from the lyrics:

your life is books you never wrote
and tote only for money

dig a hole into the ground
and pound the earth in outrage

your life is treasures that you’ve found
and drowned in lakes that you’ve made

show the soul you never had
a fad that will not save you

your life is hiding all the bad
and sad smiles that break you

See how they play with our hearts? Any record that can make me hate myself and love the world and its musicians at the same time is sure to make my year end list. This is a solid piece of art by any measurement.

And thread throughout this record are songs about marriage. Daniel reports that he began writing a song for friends who were marrying and couldn’t stop at just one. Soon he had four, they’ve made it onto Tarpits and Canyonlands, thankfully, providing counterweight to the heady and the dark, already mentioned in this review. “Reasons” is one that will without a doubt find it’s way onto many wedding CDs. “Cold Runaway” is a bit more musically complex and full of that crazy loud-then-soft percussion they do so well, and with slide whistle (!) Then comes the final track, a straight up beautiful folk tune, “Kate and Kelsey” sweetly sung. And well, that one just makes me ache to go back and listen to my old Simon and Garfunkel records again. It’s nothing like them mind you, only the same type of song you’d find on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme; and it’s a fitting end to this beautiful collection.

Darlings, you really need to add this album to your collection. Listen to it in the car on a long drive; you’ll find yourself singing along in no time. Listen to it to hear the way Bombadil has worked the piano bits in and out of a song in just the right amount and let the guitar carry the rest along. Hear how that mad drummer does that tricksy thing he does and make it look so easy. Oh and I didn’t even begin to tell you about “Laurita” sung all in Spanish! It’s awesome. Are there songs that are less wonderful than others on Tarpits and Canyonlands? Yes, I’d rank “25 Daniels” as not quite as shiny, but it’s a fitting song for it’s subject, punctuated with horns and tambourines and solid harmonies. “Kuala Lampur” is a song I try to not care for, but damn it’s catchy! Ask me again in six months and I am betting I’ll still be enthusiastic over this record. It’s is a wonderful achievement for Bombadil. Tarpits and Canyonlands has not ceased to make me smile and I think it never will. xoxox

Pre-order Tarpits and Canyonlands here

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Sadly, Bombadil have had to cancel their tour to promote this record due to health reasons. Daniel’s suffering tendinitis and the rest of the band felt it wasn’t right to go on without him. I know they probably wouldn’t ask, but I will… it’s a lot easier to sell an album when people can go hear you play it and fall in love with it in person. So if you like what you hear please buy it and then do tell someone about it, eh? xoxo