You know how some albums hit you right in the guts, rip your heart out and smash you right in the face with their fist? The Antlers’ “Hospice” is one such album. And Peter Silberman is one of those song writers whose sole purpose sometimes seems to be to make you cry (and no, I don’t mean that in a bad-trashy-Hollywood-romantic-comedy-kinda-way, but in a damn-this-man-is-a-talented-storyteller-kinda-way). The lyrics on “Hospice” evoke Bon Iver’s maudlin uplift and emotional intelligence, and a lot of the time Mr Silberman’s voice too resemblance that of Justin Vernon/Bon Iver even though his falsetto is less frequent than that of Justin Vernon’s. Listen to Bear and you’ll know exactly what I mean… “When we get home we’re bigger strangers/ Than we’ve ever been before/ You sit in front of snowy television/ Suitcase on the floor.” This is a song that would’ve fit perfectly into Bon Iver’s mighty “For Emma, Forever Ago” tracklist.
Tiny Mixtapes describes “Hospice” this way: “In the hands of a lesser artist, Hospice could have been a complete clusterfuck. A concept album about childhood trauma precipitating adult dysfunction, with nightmares, ghosts, hospital machinery, and attempted suicide, the album could have very easily buckled under the weight of all this sodden imagery and self-seriousness. Yet against all odds, its oxidized bones stubbornly refuse to bend and its spires continue to wind their way heavenward.” Honestly, there’s no way I could’ve said it better. This is an album that moves you. It takes you places you might not always want to go. It’s not a sweet and gentle lover, it expects things of off you and questions your version of the truth. If you’ve ever cared for a second about Lady Ga-Ga you should, quite frankly, stay the fuck away from The Antlers. But. If music means anything to you, and if you’ve ever defined yourself by a song, or used music to feel things, then please, don’t miss out on this Brooklyn trio.
“Hospice” is an album of rare beauty, and even if none of the musicians that contributed to it ever records any music again they can at least always go back and pat themselves on the shoulder for contributing to this one.
“I only talk when you are sleeping/ That’s when I tell you everything/ I imagine that/ Somehow you’re going to hear me…”
Bear :: The Antlers
Two :: The Antlers
Epilogue :: The Antlers
Earlier this year The Antlers played a session at WOXY. This stripped down acoustic set you can find here.
Oh, I almost forgot; the Antlers self-released “Hospice” initially and were turned down multiple times by different labels. When writing this I think they’ve been picked up by French Kiss, and hopefully get the backing they need to keep doing what they do best. Music.
A 20 minute live clip of The Antlers playing a session for NPR’s All Songs Considered;
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