Quiver

by

Wild Strawberries

Edit

QUIVER is Wild Strawberries, a Canadian band, their first album since 1996's HEROINE which propelled the hits Heroine and I Don't Want To Think About It. They get better with each album, and I have to say QUIVER is definately my favorite. There's definately a mood on the album, and it is perfectly conveyed through Roberta Carter's unique voice. Once again there are a variety of musicians added to the mix, but its done well, its done right. Some highlights from the album include 32, Trampoline, Gotta Go, Minions, I Guess I'm Amused and You Could Be So Cold, although they are all excellent songs. Give Wild Strawberries a try, they are in a way like Bjork in some ways, also very Portishead like, but they are original in their own sense, there is no one else like them. Give QUIVER a try!!

There is a certain philosophy that runs through all the songs on this disc which I will call Nihilistic Hedonism. The points are these: The universe is chaotic with no lasting meaning or ultimate purpose. Pain is prevalent, primarily because of the unfulfilled expectations natural to such a chaotic universe. Most of the unfulfilled expectations have to do with relationships. Pain is avoided by minimizing expectations. Pleasure should be pursued since it is the only, albeit temporary, escape. It is because of this undertone that I refer to this as 'drek'. On the positive, the lyrics are intelligent, the voice is haunting, and on the whole I cannot think of a way that this could have been more beautifully done. Very well packaged, but drek nonetheless.