Frog Eyes
Pickpocket’s Locket
(Paper Bag Records)
3/5
Victoria indie-rock band Frog Eyes has gathered a new assortment of musicians to create an even darker, more unique sound on this album. Vocalist/guitarist Carey Mercer still makes his mark with his signature shaky style, and he is accompanied again by his wife Melanie Campbell, who blends her aggressive, sometimes tribal drumming with Mercer’s angst-ridden vocals.
Inspired by his late father, Mercer’s poetic lyrics tell a story from a place of pain and grief that is felt with every word. A small orchestra of friends surrounds Mercer with intense dream-like melodies, lifting the weight of the singer’s iconic contagious sadness.
Although I can respect the emotion and artistry behind this album, it is not something I find myself drawn to listen to. I listen to music to feel good, and although I enjoyed the instrumentals, Mercer’s creepy voice brought me down like Roger Waters’ on a rainy day.