Pale Young Gentlemen

“Fraulein“
from the album Pale Young Gentlemen
2007
iTunes

Blurb from The Isthmus removed upon request, but a fine replacement from the friendly folks at Dane101:

Although the motley crew that constitutes Pale Young Gentlemen have the appearance of ruffians, I doubt the Madison band ever get into a fight — their music is far too much fun, in exactly the kind of roguish way that seems designed to keep you dancing and them out of trouble.

Their sound, on their eponymous first release, lies close to the wild, romantic sound of The Decemberists or DeVotchKa, or perhaps even Gogol Bordello, which is to say, it lends itself to hyperbole and the overuse of adjectives. Songs are wont to begin with a dramatic swelling of cello strings reminiscent of DeVotchKa, before bouncing into rousing piano lines that would be quite at home in any gin-joint or smoky bar. The booze-soaked energy produced by this pairing drives boisterous beer-hall choruses worthy of the most debauched adventures.

And the stories they tell mirror this heady mix. Opening track “Fraulein” is a bar love song for the titular lady. The second track, “Nikolai,” is a wild romp involving crossdressing, attempted kidnapping, and the cyclopian, one-eyed title character. “Clap Your Hands” is the liveliest song about playing chess in the park (and also dancing) that I’ve heard in, well, ever. “Appeal to St. Peter” itself can’t resist a call-and-response chorus that would be comfortable in any lively den of vice, although the sentiment runs up against the almost angelic sounds of the last track, “Single Days.”

The only weak point on the album comes midway through the album, on the song “As a War.” It’s unpleasantly slow (not that they can’t do slower songs: “Single Days” certainly isn’t fast), and the vocals are mixed badly, letting lead vocals get drowned out by the instruments.

Beyond this, though, the CD is a fantastic listen from beginning to end — excellent listening for any long evening out, or just to party to privately.