This mysterious combo hasn't altered the formula much over four full studio albums. "Curtains" once again features the core sextet fleshing out Stuart Staples' sombre tone poems with beautiful layers of violin, keyboards, accordion, clarinet, brushed drums, and the occasional borrowed orchestral instrument. The surprises here are "Fast One", which features a pretty good imitation of the Velvets' noisy masterpiece, "I Heard Her Call My Name", and "Marriage Made In Heaven", a bonus track with guest vocals by Isabella Rossellini. As far as the basic Tindersticks recipe, it's not really an acquired taste; like sushi or snails, you either love it right of the bat, or it makes you want to puke. The biggest obstacles are the tempos (they're slower than the Queen Mum's pulse rate) and Staples' voice (critic Robert Wilonsky describes it as Nick Cave imitating Bryan Ferry on a 45 slowed down to 33). --Jim Derogatis
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
brilliance in a dead end street This album nearly caused tindersticks to split up early. Stuck in a marvellous rut, they couldn't see a way out. It's a dilemma that hangs over this record. On 'Curtains', Tindersticks are desperate men. Even more than usual, the relationships it describes are fraught with frustration and confusion....rented rooms, another night in....wanting more than what you have even though what you have is wonderful, not knowing why you've done what you've done. An end is somehow always present. Occasionally, it's... more info
The Most Private Emotions This album... It holds so many memories, and at times I have not dared listening to it, being afraid I would drown in its depths. It holds an air of restlessness, of failed attempts to have a functioning relationship, of fear of having a relationship. A friend of mine decribed it as the most beautiful album he knew, but also as one of the darkest. And yes, this is music to play on a late autumn evening, allowing yourself to indulge in loneliness and despair, and perhaps a glass of red wine. Its beauty will... more info
the indie equivalent of barry white.......... My girlfriend and I used to reguarly use this album as an aphrodisiac.........I lent it to a friend a year ago and never got it back.... tindersticks are an aquired taste/make the most beautiful music in the world. What more can i say?
Another Tindersticks masterpiece When I was writing my review on Tindersticks latest CD 'Simple Pleasure' last night I forgot to list 'Curtains' as one of their masterpieces. Actually, everything this group produces is a masterpiece.
Their first CD, affectionately known as 'Tindersticks One' is their lyrical masterpiece, but the CDs that followed increasingly showed a greater perfection of style and reproduction. 'Curtains' in many respects could be a sequel to the Tindersticks second album with its sweeping melodic and complex... more info
