Music writers often face the challenge of adequately portraying bands that defy description. One such act hails from an unlikely setting—Nashville, Tennessee. Are they country? Jazz? Soul? Pop? Rock? The jury is still out on exactly where Lambchop fits, but the fact remains that since their formation in 1993 the band consistently recorded indescribable, inspired, and intelligent music.
My brief relationship with Lambchop was spurred by the inclusion of Life’s Little Tragedy on the 2001 Morcheeba compilation Back To Mine. The song was a lesser-known track from the band’s sophomore effort How I Quit Smoking. It was based on the quality of this track that I took it upon myself to track down the 2002 Lambchop release Is A Woman.
Probably the most widely lauded albums from this act’s short career have been that aforementioned sophomore effort in addition to 1998’s What Another Man Spills. But listeners shouldn’t limit themselves to the more widely recognized albums…rather explore them all. Listen to samples, attempt to digest Lambchop carefully…one song at a time.
While the band’s lineup has changed pretty significantly since inception, the goal seems to have remained the same: to put together creative, avant-garde music. The leader has always been Kurt Wagner. Wagner writes the majority of the tracks in addition to also singing and playing guitar. Deanna Varagona is also a continuing force with her assembly of instruments like the banjo, cello, and saxophone. Providing percussion and drums is Allen Lowrey. Paul Niehaus is the steady guitarist. Others have come and gone often just lasting long enough for one album-length collaboration. It’s this continual rotation of contributors and a steady core that has allowed this band to grow and to develop and to create anew.
Lambchop is never going to be massively popular. People in general enjoy the easily accessible and easily describable. But individuals already fans of alt-rock and indie-pop should definitely check ‘em out. While early on the band was rooted in country, by the time Is A Woman appeared on shelves in February 2002 they were more rock and pop. This move isn’t good or bad…it is just the further evolution of music.
Is A Woman was released on the same label (Merge) that once proclaimed Lambchop to be “Nashville’s most f*cked-up country band.” While the country part doesn’t apply, the part about being immensely “f*cked-up” still does. They are most certainly strange and entirely (as mentioned in the first paragraph) indescribable. In the course of eleven consistently good—not necessarily great—songs Lambchop solidifies their place at the heart and soul of indie-pop.
With the first notes of The Daily Growl it is crystalline that Lambchop is unique. A soft-rock, jazzy ballad the song is beautifully assembled and wonderfully performed. Sparsely instrumented with a simple piano, light percussion, and most notable Wagner’s smoky vocals the track serves as a lovely introduction to the album. And as with the rest of the songs on the album, it’s rather lengthy. The shortest tracks are over four and a half minutes while the longest is nearly eight minutes in length. No complaints though. When music is well done and feels complete and not forced, length is on no concern.
The transition between The Daily Growl and The New Cobweb Summer is seamless. Lambchop and Wagner just seem to make the bridge without thought. And aside from the addition of the occasional sax the songs are almost indistinguishable from one another. These are not mainstream, catchy offerings…Is A Woman is an album meant to be enjoyed on the whole rather than in bite size tidbits.
My Blue Wave, while incredibly lengthy, is also one of my favorite tracks here. The combination of the restrained acoustic guitar and Wagner’s vocals are classic. Lush and tasty, My Blue Wave is slow and melodic trip. And the word trip is applicable…Lambchop intends on bringing listeners into their aural world. It’s highly suggested that braver souls make this journey.
Also gently beautiful is I Can Hardly Spell My Name. The pace picks up a little for the track, but really not enough to make it anything more than just chill out music. Don’t expect this album to really grab hold of you on the first listen. It’s also not suggested that you listen while driving. It is the kind of offering that requires an open mind and relaxed soul.
As Is A Woman progresses little changes. No songs stand out nor are they meant to hits. And while Wagner’s lyrics sound good they really don’t have much inherent meaning. It’s their delivery by Wagner that truly makes Lambchop a force to be reckoned with. Autumn’s Vicar is a perfect example of this tendency. Wagner smoothly sings about love and old cowboy books with little regard. And the next, Flick is a return to a theme of earlier albums…smoking and in this case flicking.
Caterpillar is moderately different than the rest of the tracks here. It is spacey, drugged, trippy and even a bit catchier (believe it or not). Also including a spacey guitar, D. Scott Parsley is as funky as Is A Woman gets. Wagner and in turn Lambchop is a talented group. Little aside from the guitar and voice are necessary to make the song complete. But in calling the track “complete,” it is also important to note that this is one of the very few tracks here than can stand on its own without the crutch provided by the others.
Completely inaccessible and probably the worst song on here, Bugs is a bleak and boring track. However it is an integral portion of the album. Even the lyrics are trite beginning with bugs rubbing their legs together and tripping Wagner out. Whatever…the concept of this song isn’t in the least bit profound. Profundity is also missing on The Old Matchbook Trick and Is A Woman but those final two songs are at least moderately entertaining.
Whether or not Is A Woman is a worthwhile purchase is a toss up. The continuously slow and plodding songs will annoy some listeners while others will appreciate it for the chill out value. I’m unsure about the value of the album and instead suggest prospective fans check out How I Quit Smoking before checking out this good but inaccessible album.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. The Daily Growl
02. The New Cobweb Summer
03. My Blue Wave
04. I Can Hardly Spell My Name
05. Autumn’s Vicar
06. Flick
07. Caterpillar
08. D. Scott Parsley
09. Bugs
10. The Old Matchbook Trick
11. Is A Woman
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