Album Review: The Crying Light

If you listened to last year's fantastic single 'Blind,' then you know what the voice of Antony Hegarty sounds like, and this is basically showcasing that voice for an entire album. Now, when I first listened to this all the way through, I really didn't think much of it. It seemed like the songs blended together too frequently, and Antony's deep voice became too repetitive to listen to for a whole album. Yet, more listens have given me a much deeper appreciation for it, and chances are the same thing will happen for you. This is not for everyone, and it's more likely that you'll give it a listen and turn it off than stay for the whole thing. But it really is beautiful when you give it a chance.
The main attraction is 'Another World,' a somber, piano-driven ballad that is exactly the soapbox Antony needs to belt out that haunting voice of his. My favorite track, however, would be 'Daylight and the Sun.' Also focusing on piano, this six minute epic also features some powerful strings as well, and some chilling vocals and lyrics to boot. There are some other quality songs on the album, yet some of the weaker ones still seem to drift in and out of relevance when put up against the stronger ones. All of the lyrics focus on Antony's mortality and are quite moving, and that aspect combined with his voice gives you a sucker-punch of emotion throughout.
This is an album to listen to through headphones while watching the sun rise or set, contemplating your existence and path through life. Deep, right? I know. But in all honesty, this is a somewhat fleeting, yet beautiful glimpse into a man's search for answer and reason. Breath-taking at times and monotonous at others, it takes a while to get adjusted to the sound and style of this album. But once you do, it's an album that deserves the attention it's getting.

Chandler's Rating- 7.9

Antony and the Johnsons- Daylight and the Sun
Buy Song: iTunes
Stream the entire album at Spinner, where the fantastic Merriweather Post Pavilion is also streaming in it's entirety!

-Chandler