Beirut - The Rip Tide

Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Zach Condon’s musical influences span a far greater reach than the southwestern sky. An early desire to explore the world and the music it offers, much of Condon’s college years were spent absorbing European culture, language and composition. It’s no shock then that it is abroad where his band enjoys much of its success. Beirut formed in 2006 and, with its varying members, has become an indie hit in both America and Europe, and has even, surprisingly, spawned a series of tribute bands across Brazil.

Beirut’s third full-length album, The Rip Tide, doesn’t quite abandon those worldly influences of its short past, but arguably seems to lack the reach of its others. Keeping with the unique combination of guitar, accordion, horns, piano and Condon’s distinct voice, Rip Tide treads the line between folk and indie. And overall the album is fine, but it doesn’t seem to do much to hold the interest of the listener. It’s almost as if you’ve heard everything they have to offer after just two or three tracks. Eight-bar intro over simple structure, enter lyrics, add horns, repeat, end. Yes, that’s an over-simplification, but by track nine, it feels like that’s all you’ve heard. Most tracks finish just how they start, sometimes with a little more or less intensity, but often without having included something as simple as a bridge or even an outro.

However, two of the most interesting tracks on the album (using that term somewhat loosely) do come in the middle and end. “Payne’s Bay,” while not deviating far from the main march theme, does switch from the three to four-four time at the midpoint, as it brings in the repetitive “headstrong today, I’ve been headstrong” and comes to an abrupt halt. And “Port of Call,” with its six-eight drive finds a way to layer and build, first with piano, then backing vocals. Horns drive the middle before ebbing back into the vocals, ultimately putting it all together for a grand-ish finale.

Some albums aren’t meant to be dissected. There isn’t a need to pick them apart line by line because that’s not the intent of the artist in the first place. Sometimes an album is made just to please the ear. It’s better to just hit play and relax. Maybe that’s a more appropriate approach to Beirut. They certainly are a fine band, and Rip Tide a fine album, in those respects. But for the listener looking for a little more, something that can provide a bit more of a challenge, it’s probably better to look elsewhere.

Rating
Overall: 3/5
Originality: 2.5/5
Production: 3/5
Listenability: 3/5