Hospice
by The Antlers

From pearljammer13 TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/24/2013 15:02 | #69736 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

I listened to this a few times and thought it was pretty good, but didn't fully understand all the high praise. Then I listened to it and read along with the lyrics. Understood.

Finding it hard not to listen to this album after the second listen. Everytime I hear it I feel I've unlocked something else into the mysteriously vague concept album. It's hard to know exactly what story the album is trying to tell, but whatever it is, it's about someone knowing someone they love is going to die - and that inevitability makes the album carry such strong emotions it's hard not to feel wrapped inside. The light-hearted songs like "Bear" and "Two" are only more sad when you know this tone is just an attempt to forget that the end is near for them.
And the ending is so chilling, I think it was goofy at first, but that's what it's meant to be, uncomfortably cheery for such a sad ending - like a fake smile on a clown, it doesn't sit well. The sounds seem fake, distorted, cracking - like this is a mask of "being okay" the character has put on themselves, but it's only a facade, a fake.
It gradually fades, as though this fake smile is carried with them their whole lives, but the deep, inset pain never ends.

One of my favorite albums of all time. The concept is incredibly touching, the music is well-executed, and Pete Silberman is a great singer/songwriter. Just perfect. The balances may be off, and there are imperfections in the music, but that imperfection makes the album that much better. Especially with emotions, a hint of imperfection just highlights the sense of despair in Pete's message.

Probably the most powerful album I've ever listened to emotionally, with some of the most interesting and fantastic music I've ever heard. Peter Silberman has one of my favorite voices I've ever heard and The Antlers are to me the best band of the last five years easily.

Because of Hospice's inaccessibility, in order to fully appreciate the album I think it is best to treat it as a film or book. Follow the incredibly touching story and actually take the time to read the lyrics and it may just move you.