The Spirit Moves
In a Nutshell:
Recommended for:
· Fans of folk-pop bands like: Of Monsters and Men and The Lumineers
· Folk fans in general
Average Rating: 6.6/10
Pros:
· Instrumentation and production
Cons:
· Lacks memorable songwriting
The Spirit Moves is the fifth full-length album by folk-pop singer/songwriter Langhorne Slim and his band, The Law. Spirit is the follow up to the crowd-funded album The Way We Move, which was lauded by media outlets like Rolling Stone and late night talk show host/world renowned music critic Conan O’Brien.
Langhorne Slim, Photo by Abby Gallardi
MELODY MAKER MARINO:
One aspect of this album that stands out for me is the instrumentation. The instrumentation on this album is much more articulate and grand than the majority of folk-pop acts out there. A great example of this is the eponymous track. This track is full of galloping drums, wailing banjos and horns, howling vocals, and a hearty dose of heart and soul. The Law nail their role in every song perfectly. It’s the small things like little horn lines and pianos swelling in and out that add another layer of depth I find refreshing.
The heart and soul especially is what distinguishes Langhorne from other folk-pop acts. Bands like Of Monsters and Men and The Lumineers can be catchier at times, but there is a certain feeling that Langhorne can pull out of his music that these bands don’t. And what genre emphasizes the importance of heart in your music more than folk?
The major downfall of this album is a lack of memorable songwriting. While there aren’t any songs I consider bad, there aren’t too many I consider great. This applies especially for the second half of the album. Songs like “Wolves” and “Airplane” don’t offer much melodically or even instrumentally for me to want to come back for another listen.
Overall, this album is a fun, if forgettable, listen. But if there is one thing to get from this album it is that Langhorne Slim is an artist to keep your eye on.
Favorite songs: "Spirit Moves", "Changes"
7/10
Langhorne Slim and The Law, Photo by autumnwaldenpond
MAGICFINGERS:
The Spirit Moves, as a whole was a decent album to me. It was full of nostalgia and brought back memories of love, heartbreak, and shenanigans with friends. Very relatable content lyrically and the vocals were impressive. Langhorne Slim belts some hair raising choruses in his rough soulful voice, and at other times, brings the intensity down and serenades you with THE FEELS. Aside from that there was not too many other standout aspects.
The songwriting was well crafted and executed, but it lacked any real excitement. There were some good songs but nothing that had me itching to re-listen to it more than a few times. I can't think of any scenarios or activities where this would be my first choice of listening material.
Overall I would say it's a pleasant listening experience but lacked any major originality. We can get essentially the same thing from every other folk-rock band.
Favorite Song: “Bring You My Love”
6.2/10
MOM:
I cannot say that I enjoyed the lyrics much at all for this album. The track, “Changes” contains the lines, “Maybe it's too soon, Under a purple moon, But I'd ride off with you in a big balloon”. This sums up how much of the album goes, lyrically. The album is jam-packed with cliches and expected rhymes. That is not to say that either of those cannot be well used within a pop-folk album. However, it seems to have crossed the threshold.
Vocally, Langhorne is not my favorite vocalist. His tone can run a tad whiny, during songs with slower tempos. This is not to say I dislike every slower song on this album. However, when you listen to the beginning of “Life’s a Bell” his vocals do not come out smoothly. Though his style does fit his genre, it does not allow for an easy listening. But, when he belts out a gritty line after a dynamic shift in the song, my criticisms dissolve. He’s a folk vocalist- clear cut.
Aside from being critical of the vocals, the album as a whole, has a fantastic folk sound and variety. If you flip this album, you will certainly not be listening to the same song 12 times. I would recommend this album be flipped by folk-pop fans.
Favorite Song: “Put it Together”
6.5/10
Check out Langhorne Slim's website to buy their music, find news, tour info, and merchandise.
Or listen on Spotify, & iTunes/Apple Music
Next week's review: "Future Present Past" by The Strokes
Our team is comprised of some semi-normal, occasionally funny people who love to listen to and talk about music. And like many of you, we constantly find ourselves hungry to discover new music.