If you've ever had the misfortune to catch an episode of Jeremy Kyle or Trisha or Jerry Springer or any other trashy lowest common denominator real-life daytime television pap, you'll know that the world's heaving with scabbers and scrubbers willing to air their dirty laundry on (inter)national television for the price of a packet of fags. You'll also be aware that shagging your best friend's partner, your wife's cousin, your aunt’s toy boy or your boyfriend's gran is a bad idea and can cause all sorts of grief. People get very worked up about relationships and can be quite possessive, even psychotic. And here's Tim Kasher, suggesting that monogamy is just a game!
People get shanked up for going with prostitutes, their food poisoned for propositioning the babysitter with a threesome and a spot of S&N, and yet Tim Kasher reduces the whole deal to a mere trifle as if it were snakes and ladders, while promising 'theatrical arrangements with lush instrumentation.'
To be fair, he does deliver this and more on what is an interesting and listenable album. 'A Grown Man' is upbeat indie pop, augmented with bold horns and sweeping strings, and is a remarkable contrast to the introduction, 'Monogamy Overture' which is perhaps best described as an example of contemporary classical, rather than orchestral pop. 'I'm Afraid I'm Going to Die Here' sees Kasher tell the tale of landing a job as an obituary writer and writing his own obituary, but the delivery is upliftingly breezy, a blast of ska-tinged brass carrying the song to the finish. There are moments of quiet reflection, as on 'Strays', but these are considered, personable, rather than merely maudlin, self-pitying or indulgent, revealing Kasher to be a capable and articulate lyricist and songwriter.
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There some unextected twists, too, such as the eruption of distorted bass at the end of (the appropriately-titled) 'Surprise, Surprise', demonstrating a humour and adaptability. It all adds up to a rather enjoyable listening experience, that’s neither as twee nor flippant as the title may suggest.
Tim Kasher on MySpace
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