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album review
Listening to DeVotchKa's third album, any aging '80s indie kid will fall into a what-if daydream. Remember when Morrissey broke up the Smiths? Maybe instead of going solo, the Mozzer should have hooked up with Peter Solowka, who at the time was starting up his own solo project outside the confines of the Wedding Present, a tongue-in-cheek blending of U.K. indie guitar pop and the sounds of his Eastern European homeland called the Ukrainians. DeVotchKa's How It Ends is a dead-brilliant amplification of what that fantasy collaboration might have sounded like. Singer Nick Urata only occasionally leans on the Morrissey-like qualities of his voice, most notably on the opening "You Love Me," but the album explores the amalgam of Eastern European folk melodies and instrumentation with otherwise straightforward indie rock to a much greater extent than the Ukrainians ever managed (and unlike the somewhat similar 3 Mustaphas 3, they have a solid grasp of how to write a catchy pop song as well). They even go so far as to interject a little Calexico-style mariachi influence into the mix, possibly under the influence of producer Craig Schumacher, who's worked with that band and Giant Sand. This is a wide-ranging and thoroughly enjoyable album from start to finish. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
See all-
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- A Mad And Faithful Telling
- Released 2008
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- Una Volta
- Released 2003
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- Supermelodrama
- Released 2002
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- Curse Your Little Heart
- Released 2006
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listener reviews
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Unique and Captivating
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- By Impala26
- 9/9/2009 05:47:52
- I will certainly say that the title track is indeed sweeping and bittersweet, but to me does not steal the show. DeVotchKa shows a worldly eclecticism that is totally refreshing to hear. Various styles abound: spaghetti western, eastern european, mariachi, classical, etc.
It's impossible to lump these guys in a genre, so I won't begin to. However if you want to listen to a band with a knack for interesting world sounds, great instrumentation and vocals, you need look no further than here. - Be the first person to rate this review!
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Lovely Song
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- By dinaki1
- 11/11/2008 04:12:55
- What a fantastic song is indeed "How It Ends"
- Be the first person to rate this review!
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