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Hospice (album)

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Untitled

Hospice is the critically acclaimed third studio album by American indie rock group The Antlers, and their first concept album. It was initially self-distributed by the band in March 2009, and was eventually remastered and re-released once they signed to Frenchkiss Records in August.[2][3]

Hospice tells the story of a relationship between a hospice worker and a female patient suffering from terminal bone cancer, their ensuing romance, and their slow downward spiral as a result of the woman's traumas, fears, and disease. Frontman Peter Silberman has been reluctant to divulge explicit details regarding the meaning of the record, and the extent to which it is autobiographical.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83 [4]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
BBC Music(positive)[5]
Lost at Sea(10/10)[6]
New York Press[7]
One Thirty BPM(88%)[8]
Pitchfork Media(8.5/10)[9]
PopMatters(8/10)[10]
Sputnikmusic[11]
Tiny Mix Tapes[4]
Drowned In Sound(8/10)[4]

The album has generated very positive reviews. Pitchfork Media endorsed the re-release of Hospice with their "Best New Music" stamp.[12] At the end of the year, the same publication named it the 37th best album of 2009, praising its "power to emotionally destroy listeners."[13] Fan review sites like Rate Your Music and Amazon MP3 have placed the album in its list of Top 10 Albums of 2009. Popular music blog 20 Watts gave it a rating of 18/20 Watts and praised the album's "realism and its sadness, found in its most abrasive lyrics and most expressive instrumental segments."[14] NPR Music placed the album in the #1 position for their Top 10 of early 2009 list.[15] Onethirtybpm named it the best album of 2009.[16] Rhapsody online deemed it the 24th best album of 2009.[17]

Singles

The first single was "Bear" in April 2009 to promote the self-released version of Hospice. "Two" was the first single released commercially as a digital download in June 2009. The song's music video features a combination of photography and cutout animation, and was directed by Ethan Segal and Albert Thrower.[18] In the United Kingdom, "Bear" was released on 7" vinyl on November 16, 2009, featuring an exclusive remix of "Bear" by Darby Cicci on the B-side.[19] Additionally, an exclusive live recording of "Sylvia" at The Orchard in New York City was released as a download on November 17, 2009.[20] "Sylvia" was issued as the third proper single on March 22, 2010. A music video was produced for the song, directed by Trey Hock, and premiered on the IFC's website on April 15, 2010.[21]

Track listing

All songs written by Peter Silberman.

  1. "Prologue" – 2:35
  2. "Kettering" – 5:10
  3. "Sylvia" – 5:27
  4. "Atrophy" – 7:40
  5. "Bear" – 3:54
  6. "Thirteen" – 3:11
  7. "Two" – 5:56
  8. "Shiva" – 3:45
  9. "Wake" – 8:44
  10. "Epilogue" – 5:25

Release history

Country Date Label Format Catalogue #
United States March 23, 2009 The Antlers Music CD 7 26167-4620-2 3
August 18, 2009 Frenchkiss Records CD (remastered) FKR041-2
LP FKR041-1
United Kingdom October 19, 2009 Frenchkiss/Studio !K7 CD FK041CD

Credits

Personnel
  • Peter Silberman – vocals, guitar, accordion, harmonica, harp, keyboards
  • Darby Cicci – trumpet, bowed banjo
  • Michael Lerner – drums, percussion
  • Justin Stivers – bass
  • Sharon Van Etten – vocals on "Thirteen"
Production
  • Recorded at Watcher's Woods, Brooklyn
  • Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
  • Artwork by Zan Goodman
  • Design by Darby Cicci

References

  1. ^ a b Lymangrover, Jason. "Hospice - Overview". Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Interview with Peter Silberman" Retrieved on July 4, 2009.
  3. ^ "The Antlers: An Album Review" Retrieved on July 4, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c staff, staff. "The Antlers - Hospice - Music Review". Cite error: The named reference "TMT" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ Skinner, James. date=21 December 2009 "BBC - Music - Review of The Antlers - Hospice". Retrieved 1 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing pipe in: |url= (help)
  6. ^ Shapiro, Ari (29 July 2009). "LAS magazine - Reviews". Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  7. ^ Kantor, Matthew (4 March 2009). "Brooklyn's Antlers Aim Loss Toward the Stars". Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  8. ^ Holden, Elizabeth (2 September 2009). "The Antlers - Hospice". Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  9. ^ Howe, Brian (4 August 2009). "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: The Antlers: Hospice". Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  10. ^ Gonzales, Matt (20 August 2009). "The Antlers: Hospice". Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Joshuatree", Cam (10 March 2009). "The Antlers - Hospice Review". Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  12. ^ Howe, Brian. "The Antlers: Hospice - Album Reviews - Pitchfork". Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Pitchfork: Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2009"
  14. ^ "20 Watts Album Review" Retrieved on August 26, 2009.
  15. ^ "NPR: 2009 already better than 2008" Retrieved on July 4, 2009.
  16. ^ "onethirtybpm: The Top 50 Albums of 2009" Retrieved on January 11, 2010.
  17. ^ The 25 Best Albums of 2009 Referenced July 31, 2010
  18. ^ "ChartAttack" Retrieved on August 19, 2009.
  19. ^ Antlers, The - Bear (7") at Discogs
  20. ^ Amazon.com: Sylvia: Live at The Orchard NYC: The Antlers: MP3 Downloads
  21. ^ Exclusive! Video premiere: The Antlers' "Sylvia" + free EP!
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