"100 Lovers" may suggest here that Nick Urata got laid a lot more after DeVotchKa's success. Because it's a little more upbeat than previous efforts. Which is not better or worse, just a little different.Each album has a feel to it, and over the course of 12 songs or so, that feel is manipulated to the greatest extent possible. So, while each record has 3 or 4 favorites, it may leave a little more to be desired to round out a fantastic full effort.
100 Lovers is no different. Like I said, it's more upbeat. There's no "Dearly Departed" haunting lullabies in this effort. But it's certainly not a pop crossover either. The band is playing more with texture, where each instrument is applying throughout the whole song. Not to mention, Nick's lyrics are a lot more robust here. He's trading away some of the operatic heartbreak tones in previous vocal performances, but it's getting a lot more in intellectually. And that has value. Previously, DeVotchKa may have painted a portrait more with melody and mood, and here there's more going on. Here, the tunes are not as dark and the themes are less mournful. Nick is still biting in some of his female descriptions, but the overall feel is one of hope. That it's worth the trying, as oppose to it already being a lost cause.
My concerns deal with the two wasted minutes of "Interludes" and the throwaway whistle track "Exhaustable". It reeks of an Edward Sharpe pleasant bullshit rip-off. And I can understand the motivation to do that, but know that I'm calling you out on it. But don't get me wrong. We've got a good 3/4 of album to chew on and it's got teeth. (3 of 5 stars)
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