Red of Tooth and Claw

Red of Tooth and Claw
Studio album by Murder by Death
Released March 4, 2008
Genre Indie rock,[1][2] Country rock,[3] Country gothic,[4][2] Folk,[2] Americana[2]
Length 37:21
Label Vagrant
Producer Trina Shoemaker
Murder by Death chronology
In Bocca al Lupo
(2006)In Bocca al Lupo2006		 Red of Tooth and Claw
(2008)		 Good Morning, Magpie
(2010)Good Morning, Magpie2010

Red of Tooth and Claw is the fourth full-length album release by American five-piece indie rock band Murder by Death and marks the first record the band has released on the Vagrant record label. The title comes from a reference in Lord Tennyson's poem In Memoriam A.H.H. It was recorded by Grammy winning producer Trina Shoemaker at Dark Horse Recording Studio in Tennessee and was released on Vagrant Records, on March 4, 2008.[5]

Red of Tooth and Claw is, as singer/guitarist Adam Turla puts it, a "Homer's Odyssey of revenge, only without the honorable character at the center".[6]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Comin' Home"3:35
2."Ball & Chain"3:02
3."Rumbrave"3:06
4."Fuego!"4:11
5."Theme (for Ennio Morricone)"2:49
6."A Second Opinion"3:19
7."Steal Away"2:05
8."Ash"3:32
9."The Black Spot"3:21
10."'52 Ford"2:25
11."Spring Break 1899"5:56

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100[7]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk.net89%[8]
AllMusic[4]
Alternative Press[7]
The A.V. ClubC+[1]
The Daily Iowan[9]
Filter84%[7]
Sputnikmusic[2]

Critics compared Turla's vocals to those of Johnny Cash, Nick Cave and Nick Drake.[4][2][3][1]

Overall, critical reception has been positive. The album holds a score of 70% on Metacritic, indicated generally favorable reviews. AllMusic states "...a taut, tense, elegant delivery...". Alternative Press giving the album four stars, says "They've finally realized their full potential...". Allmusic gave the album four stars as well, stating " the band's combination of a taut, tense, elegant delivery and poetic lyrics breathes life into each of Red of Tooth and Claw's song"[4]

In a mixed review, Spin feels it "...runs low on contemporary touchstones or appeal."[3] The A.V. Club gave the album a C+, stating it "envisions turbulence, stages it professionally, and downplays Murder By Death's power to frighten listeners and conjure up dust storms." Sputnikmusic criticized the album for sounding too similar to the previous album.[2]

Personnel

  • Adam Turla – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Sarah Balliet – cello
  • Dagan Thogerson – drums, percussion
  • Matt Armstrong – bass
  • Vincent Edwards – keyboards on "Ball and Chain"

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gordon, Scott. "Murder By Death: Red Of Tooth And Claw".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Murder by Death - Red Of Tooth And Claw (album review ) - Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  3. 1 2 3 "Murder By Death, 'Red of Tooth and Claw' (Vagrant)". 4 March 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Red of Tooth and Claw - Murder by Death - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  5. ↑ "Red of Tooth and Claw album cover".
  6. ↑ Beringer, Drew. Murder by Death – Red of Tooth and Claw (AbsolutePunk, March 3, 2008) It is a Concept Album, and a prequel to their second album, Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?
  7. 1 2 3 "Red Of Tooth And Claw by Murder by Death".
  8. ↑ "chorus.fm". chorus.fm.
  9. ↑ "link".
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