P.W. Elverum & Sun, LTD., 2004
Acquired: Love Garden Blowout Location, New, 2009
Price: $5 (originally $20)
I was in line to check out when I realized how cheap this record was. It's not that I am particularly gaga about Thanksgiving like say, Phil Elverum (I assume because imitation is the highest form of flattery), but I figured I'd give it another shot, and since it was originally very expensive and had was a nice weighty double disc (on marble grey vinyl!) and beautiful cover art, I figured there was little harm. And really, their wasn't, this is a nice record. It just sounds so so so so so much like Mount Eerie/The Microphones. And yes, Phil Elverum produced it, and that's a big reason. It adds that delicious Phil Elverum production sound, but stylistically Adrian Orange (aka Thanksgiving) writes in much the same pattern as Mr. Elverum. Coke Machine Glow's review cites the Elverum comparisons as “annoying and belittling,” which makes it sound like they desperately wanted to like this record that they would essentially call those who compare it to the Microphones a bunch of idiots. Which is stupid, given how much this sounds exactly like the quietest, most rambling Mount Eerie songs. Ultimately, this sounds like Elverum blindly trying to create his protege. It's not a bad thing, necessarily, because Elverum can do this kind of production in his sleep and has been doing it for more than a decade. What he sees in Thanksgiving that's so special is beyond me, though. Honestly, the only element of this album that separates Orange from Elverum is the occasional kettle drum. Great, you have a kettle drum, good for you. Elverum harmonizes on “Get Married” which only further proves that this record is superfluous. As Kasey just put it, “it's nice music to ignore.” It's one of the most boring records I own in one of the most beautiful packages.
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