Search - Crooked Fingers :: Dignity & Shame

A Great, Though Uneven, Album

Joel Caris | Vancouver, Washington | 02/23/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"On their fourth full length album, Dignity and Shame, Crooked Fingers are embarking in a new direction while bringing along familiar sounds. The first track, "Islero," makes clear that this will not be a simple retread of any of their previous albums. It starts out with slow and quiet guitar pickings, then brings in hand drums and finally kicks into a higher flourish with some beautiful trumpet work. The song has a very Southwestern feel to it, taking some of those sounds from their past album, Red Devil Dawn, to new heights. It's a great track, purely instrumental work that sets a melancholic mood for the rest of the album.



Interestingly, the next two songs pick up the pace more. In fact, they clash--ever so slightly--with "Islero," presenting a more upbeat and optimistic tone. However, they're good, enjoyable songs. The fourth track, "Twilight Creeps," takes the incongruity to a new level, though, ultimately clashing with the previous songs. So much about the song is high-pitched, from the opening piano chords to the eventual lyrical work of Lara Meyerattken, who shows up on a few of the album's songs. The track isn't completely out of place and is actually a solid song when Bachmann is singing. However, once Meyerattken comes in, everything feels wrong and out of place, too high and breathy. With the grit of Bachmann's voice gone, the song succumbs to a light and breezy sound, a complete affront against the tone established at the outset by "Islero."



"You Must Build A Fire" is a quiet and thoughtful offering, very reminiscent of past works, evoking the gorgeously haunting melodies of "She Spread Her Legs and Flew Away," from Crooked Fingers' self-titled album. The next track, "Valerie," is a foot-stomping, upbeat love song that kicks the album into a higher gear, much in the vein of Red Devil Dawn's "Sweet Marie." The Southwestern feel from "Islero" resurfaces in this song and is used to great effect. "Andalucia" keeps that tone going, another track with a faster pace than much of the rest of the album.



After the fast beat and loud, tumbling sounds of "Coldways," the album slows down with the last two songs. The title track, which is the final song, is perhaps the finest work of the album. Cautious and contemplative, Bachmann dwells with his lyrics, backed only by a piano for much of the song. "Dignity and Shame" is the perfect closer to the album, beautifully encapsulating the entire work and living up to the promise of the opening track. In the end, I wish that the entire album could have matched the brilliance of the opening and closing songs. If it had, it would truly have been a masterpiece. As it is, though, there are problems in the first half of the album. A couple of weak songs and some incongrous sounds detract from the overall feel of the CD. However, the second half of the album is wonderful, and there are tracks on here that match some of Crooked Fingers' best work. This isn't a perfect album, certainly, but it is a very good one."

This guy deserves more recognition

M. Emrich | Denver, Co. | 03/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not sure I'd call this Crooked Fingers best album but I would call it the bands most consistent. I'm not familiar with "Archers of Loaf", but I am impressed with the evolution of Eric Bachman's writing over the four Crooked Fingers discs. One can't ignore the Spanish influence throughout "Dignity and Shame". My favorite cut is "Twilight Creeps". He talks of a woman named Flower-

"Why does everybody always act so tough, when all anybody wants is to find a friend?

Why is everybody always trying to hide the heart which hidden has no use?"

Strong lyric backed with a Mariachi band and you've got a 5 star song. Other standouts are "Valerie","Destroyer" "You Must Build a Fire", and "Call to Arms" Comparisons to Springsteen, Wilco and Steve Earle as well as Iron and Wine all make sense. He does sound a bit like Neil Diamond vocally, but maybe I only think that because of his kick ass version of "Solitary Man" on "Resevoir Songs". I'm just surprised this guy isn't more than a cult hero. I'd love to see his band live. I bet they put on a good show."

Brilliant, heartfelt, and...HAPPY!

Gorman Bechard | New Haven, CT USA | 02/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike so many of his contemporaries, Eric Bachmann refuses to keep putting out the same record over and over again. This is the "happy" (relatively speaking) Crooked Fingers album. And damnit if he doesn't pull it off. Combining unforgettable duets with the every-now-and-then trumpet run (and really, isn't the trumpet the new violin?), Bachmann can't help but seduce you into his reverie. This cd will make you smile. And tracks 2 through 5 are as good as anything you'll hear this or any year."