Louisville, Kentucky—based trio Young Widows have been toiling quietly in the noise-rock subgenre since 2006, and that’s just the way they like it. Even the band’s album artwork shifts the focus from their faces to their creative finished product. All three studio album covers feature skeletal faces staring blankly back at the viewer. Their third album, In and Out of Youth and Lightness, was produced by Kevin Ratterman of My Morning Jacket. With such a high-profile name at the helm, the band gets just enough of a push toward the mainstream to be noticed, but without forcing them into the spotlight.
Singer/guitarist Evan Patterson has a voice that resembles post-punk legend Nick Cave. But rather than flaunt his talent, he tends to hide behind the music—hypnotic and steady march-like snare drum patterns and tapping tambourines provided by Jeremy McMonigle (album opener “Young Rivers” sets the stage early). “The Muted Man” takes this formula to an extreme, channeling a primitive tribal sacrifice set around a crackling fire. He even uses the lyrics to explain that he’s not seeking attention…quite the opposite, in fact: “Seal up the cracks in my voice / then swallow the pity like rain / to avoid the black cloud / I am the muted man.”
The lyrics speak to feelings of isolation and loneliness. In “Lean on the Ghost,” the lines “you can lean / lean on the ghost” is repeated ad nauseum. In and Out trudges along, without a noticeable shift in tone or tenor. The pace picks up a little bit towards the end, but not enough to hold a listener’s interest.
Conclusion: Interesting composition in places, but easily forgotten once the notes have faded.
This review is awful, this album is exceptional.