7 out of 10Love-struck duo, Irish musician Glen Hansard & Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová released their 3rd collaboration (2nd under the name The Swell Season) this past October. Most of you know them as the stars of 2007's Indie (somewhat) under-the-radar hit movie "Once". The heartache-inducing song's of "Once" including "Leave", "Lies" and the Academy Award winning song "Falling Slowly" were saturated with the love-lost-found-&-lost-again formula. After the movie's opening the two became an official couple. The fairy tale seemed to have a happy ending. But earlier this year, Hansard had reported that he and Irglová were no longer together, but remained good friends and continue to collaborate together. "Strict Joy", being written in the midst of their split, follows the same formula. Hansard considers "Strict Joy" another entry in his audio diary. There are more instruments, fuller songs and slightly better production behind this album as opposed to the guitar-piano simplicity of their earlier recordings.
These two seem to have a bottomless ocean of pain inside them to beautifully craft what I consider to be one of my new favorite "break-up" albums along side Beck's "Sea Change" and Norah Jones' newest; "The Fall". The song "Back Broke" is to "Strict Joy", what "All The Way Down" is to the "Once" Soundtrack. I see this as the theme to the initial reaction the moment a break up occurs. "Feeling The Pull" sounds like an upbeat attempt to cope. "I Have Loved You Wrong" would be the song playing in the background while she sits you down and explains what went wrong. "Low Rising" rides shotgun to your acceptance. If you've ever been in a similar situation, it's albums like these that you hear and are oddly comforted in knowing your not alone.
This album should make "Once" fans melt. Others may find the formula a tad overdone. But hey, stick with whatever works I guess.
Standout Tracks: Low Rising, In These Arms, Back Broke
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