The Other Shore

by Murder by Death

Overview

Stalwart Midwestern gothic Americana enthusiasts Murder by Death have always been story-driven, but where past outings kept the narrative largely oblique, The Other Shore delivers a straight-up conceptual piece that pushes the group's self-described "whiskey devil music" in some exciting but still familiar directions. Billed as a space Western (and practically begging for placement in a Firefly reboot), the 11-track set follows the trajectory of a pair of lost lovers looking to reconnect in a post-apocalyptic scenario. A grand canvas to paint on for sure, but Murder by Death have always been more attuned to the personal side of strife, and the global ramifications of a ravaged earth are merely alluded to, with the choice between love or survival serving as the tale's fulcrum. Employing a softer and more measured sonic attack than 2015's raucous Big Dark Love but retaining its underlying muscle and tasteful keyboard work, The Other Shore crystallizes the traditional Murder by Death sound into something more refined, though no less emotionally harrowing. The folksy and seemingly bucolic "Chasin' Ghosts" and "Travelin' Far" harbor deep wounds, as does the elegiac closer, "Last Night on Earth," a last-call rundown of a few of the end of the world's more intimate moments. Anchored by Sarah Balliet's emotive cello playing and Adam Turla's weathered baritone, the band tears through the heavens, floats past the wreckage, and makes peace with the present with the firm backbone and weary grace of travelers who have seen both the best and the worst that humanity has to offer. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	08/24/2018
Label:	Bloodshot
UPC:	0744302072012
Rank:	85526

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Murder by Death   Primary Artist
Dagan Thogerson   Drums,Percussion
Tyler Morse   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Adam Turla   Guitar,Vocals
Sarah Balliet   Cello
David Fountain   Trumpet,Mandolin,Accordion,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Joe Lambert   Mastering
Dagan Thogerson   Group Member
Kevin Ratterman   Mixing,Producer
Murder by Death   Composer,Producer
Tyler Morse   Group Member
Anne Gauthier   Engineer
Adam Turla   Group Member
Sarah Balliet   Group Member
Birch Miller   Design
Mara Battiste   Artwork
David Fountain   Group Member