My absolute favourite is "The Ministry Of Social Affairs" - such a fantastic track, I could listen to it a few times a day and never get tired of it. I genuinely LOVE everything about it. This primitive beat and wild saxes... I don't know - I just can't keep control of myself to it. I also love how they are singing the last song refrain together (in choir), but nevertheless you can clearly hear Polly in it (it sounds oddly sexual and ominous at the same time). Percussion and these claustrophobic sounds at the beginning are doing a great job in representing the city's monotony, it feels like you're riding on the train or something like that, and when the sax kicks in - it's like the train is slowly catching on fire, and then the madness begins!! The production is simply outstanding - in a fair world, they would have won a Grammy just for this track alone.
The second place from me - "Chain Of Keys": at first I was very sceptical about album arrangement, but then I realised what these saxes and violins could sound much more elaborate and nuanced than just a guitar in a 3-piece live version.
Third place for me is a tie between "River Anacostia" and "A Line In The Sand" (just a very enjoyable listen, can't really explain; drums are beautifully done).
"The Wheel" is also a phenomenal track, but I guess I listened to it too many times between January and April, so now it's like a stand-alone track for me. )))
"The Ministry Of Defence" is a strange one with me - at first I liked it immensely, then I rarely listened to it in about 3 weeks, but now I think it's a very powerful one.
My only (but huge) complaint about "The Orange Monkey" is what you can barely make out Polly's voice when they are singing words, while this "vocal stunt" throughout the rest of it is indeed beautiful. Lyrics are written in the first person, and I really don't like how you almost can't hear the person who wrote it - her vocals are literally buried in the choir (yes, I realise it's a tipical folk music move, but nonetheless). As I wrote earlier, I don't mind a chorus in "The Ministry Of Social Affairs" (or in "Near The Memorials To Vietnam And Lincoln" for that matter), so it's purely a production complaint on this particular track.
Also, don't you just love the wild and echo-ey drums before the second verse of "Near The Memorials To Vietnam And Lincoln"? "Medicinals", "The Community Of Hope" and "Dollar, Dollar" are gorgeous and catchy as well.
Overall, the whole album is great and very impressive.
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