Peace Is Burning Like A River
Label: High Two
Length: LP
Media: CD
Format: Album
WorkNameSort: Peace Is Burning Like A River
Aside from his day gig as a producer, Brian McTear has performed as Bitter Bitter Weeks for years. On this third, louder album, McTear opens his smart songwriting up to full-band arrangements. So Peace rings with more electric guitars than were tracked for Revenge in 2004, but the same dynamics are in place. His delicate, wavering vocal is often the primary one ‘ unless it’s doubled by multiple ‘la’sâ?� or matched with backing vocalist/keyboardist/co-producer Amy Morrissey’s sunny pipes, as it is atop ‘Terrifiedâ?�’s shimmering, R.E.M.-like guitar leads. The lively ‘Danger in the Hallsâ?� gets prominent piano treatment at the bridge, with an infectious chorus that strays far from the ghost story at hand. Chills that go undelivered in ‘Dangerâ?� are relegated to ‘Peace Is Burning Like a River,â?� with McTear at first strumming and singing beautifully on his own, before he’s joined by the reassuring chorus of his new band.
This article appears in Jun 27 – Jul 3, 2007.