Therapy? - Crooked Timber [Album]
 

Crooked Timber marks 20 years existence for Therapy?, which is marked by their fourteenth release, Crooked Timber. Having maintained a pretty solid line up throughout their career, with very minimal changes, Therapy? have managed to be very consistent in their sound and styling. Crooked Timber being the first full length of Therapy’s?, that I have ever listened to, I was slightly apprehensive as to what to expect. In my view I’ve always seen them as one of those bands that is consistently average and never seems to break through to the big time, just plodding along holding on and never becoming anything truly ground breaking.

Crooked Timber broke that opinion in me and instead of showing me why Therapy? have never become, in my eyes, a massively know band, it showed me why they have consistently been able to make a successful career out of their music. The music isn’t massively complicated and isn’t new or innovative it is just simply good solid alt rock with hints of metal. The production is great with all the instruments standing out with a very clear and individual voice.

The album starts off with a harder edge; the bass having a very metallic tinge, the tracks generally having punctuated rhythms and mellowed verses leading to fuller choruses. The second half of Crooked Timber seems to be more rounded with a lot more vocal harmonies and fuller songs. The highlight for me, though, is the mammoth 10-minute wonder that is ‘Magic Mountain’. The track starts in typical Therapy? style with a sludgy slow riff but then soon drops in to this ambient sweeping harmonic riff that lays the foundations for this track. The track moves in to various different realms but seems to always move back to the harmonic riff, but still ever building in a very Pelican-esque fashion.

This album has showed me that there is diversity within Therapy? and that the main tracks that I’ve heard, displaying simple rock melodies and pop structures, are only a minor facet of this bands ability. Therapy? have created an album that structurally flows and that is not a very easy task to achieve.

Re: Therapy? - Crooked Timber [Album]
 

Ah man these are still going! I remember these about 5 years ago play rock city.

Therapy - Crooked TImber [Album]
 

Ever since I saw the ‘Teethgrinder’ video by Therapy? I was both terrified and hooked. I began thinking about what type of band this was, as it combined some of the most peculiar elements to achieve its sound. Following with the likes of titles such as ‘Hey Satan – You Rock’, they certainly made an impact within the music scene. And so here is the new album "Crooked Timber" from Therapy? and I'm excited to hear it.

It’s evident almost immediately that Therapy are back to form, especially when the hard hitting, distorted, quick riffs make their first appearance. The vocals are relatively dark and disturbing in their arrangement, where they synchronise with the musical aspects to allow for the most precise moments of impact. With a track entitled ‘The head that tried to hang itself’ as the opener, you can get a sense of the direction Therapy? are hoping to take the album.

There is certainly some interesting percussion work in place on the likes of ‘Enjoy the struggle’, where the incorporation of tinny, metallic bangs and crashes only add to the unique sections and weird passages. These are carried through, but perhaps more refined during the likes of ‘Exiles’ and the title track ‘Crooked Timber’. Therapy? are definitely an experimental act and it’s not every day that bands like this surface (or re-surface) and have the confidence and balls to hit the studio and record these pieces of music.

One song which really stood out as exceptional tune, was ‘I told you I was ill’ which seems to come across very effortlessly on the album and probably is the most accessible. From the frantic sections of drum, to the heavy guitar riffs, all these combine with a commendable vocal (the best example on the album) and definitely one to look out for if you are new to the work of Therapy?



This is one of those albums that you really need to hear to truly appreciate. In many ways, it is a difficult one to even describe because I think that personal interpretation is key with the work of Therapy?. On that note, I can confidently say that this is a very strong addition to the current discography of work so far released by the group and I believe this is a fantastic return to form. Looking forward to potential live shows this year, where I am sure the atmosphere and spectacle would be unrivalled.

Re: Therapy? - Crooked Timber [Album]
 

Just so you know Dan I moved this here as we already had a review of this it seems.

Re: Therapy? - Crooked Timber [Album]
 

Ah, I was looking for Dan's review. Thought it had gotten lost in limbo.

Re: Therapy? - Crooked Timber [Album]
 

yeah, I couldn't find it at first. Fingers crossed people scroll down to view the messages section!