Murder By Death – In Bocca Al Lupo

I remember it was almost a year ago when I saw these guys open for Against Me!. I was very sick, and couldn’t even stand and was forced to try to enjoy the show over a splitting headache and just the symptoms of a flu. Nevertheless, there was still something about Murder By Death which blew me away.A year later, I finally have a recording of theirs in my hand, the CD is In Bocca Al Lupo, and once again, there’s something there that blows me away.

The instant Adam Turla pipes in with “There’s a son, he is born with a silver spoon in his mouth” on the opening track of Boy Decide, you know there’s something unique about the band; and leading the way throughout it all is Turla. His vocal output places him next to people like Nick Cave or Tom Waits in his younger years or more accurately the late Johnny Cash (particularly with songs like Sometimes The Line Walks You which I’m sure the man in black would enjoy). His eerie vocals flow through the speakers into your brain as he tells twelve stories from the voices of many characters. His beautiful lyrics merged with numerous metaphors discussing the varying factors that comprises all the different facets of life. From this sea-shanty sing along of mutiny and betrayal in Dead Men And Sinners to the more easily accessible single of loyalty and unspoken response in the song right afterwards, Brother. Turla talks to his imaginary wife and child with the kindness of a loving father in Shiola (one of the highlights of the album) followed by stories of death and the devil with Steam Rising and The Devil Drives.

But Turla is not alone in driving home the power that is In Bocca Al Lupo. No, far from it. He is constantly supported by lush melodies covering the span of the last decade. There’s bluegrass fused with rock and old scratch revival.Sarah Balliet’s perfectly plucked cello pushes each song forward, and takes the lead on songs like One More Notch. Steady drumming from Alex Schrodt with sticks that merely dance across the skins capture the listener completely.

With one listen to Murder By Death‘s In Bocca Al Lupo, you will know that there is something unique. It is unlike anything being released today, and works perfectly. It’s a fresh air in a smog of emo and rock outfits, they take the listener back in time to a much eerier, old fashioned time. Imagine walking into a saloon in an old western and seeing a band take the stage in front of a rowdy crowd of drunken cowboys and villains,because on that day, the band playing would be Murder By Death and the songs played would be from here.