Top Ten Albums of 2011
4. Beirut – The Rip Tide
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Zach Condon’s songwriting matures immeasurably on this his bands third album and the sophisticated simplicity and effortless ease with which he unfolds his aching tunes of love is a wonderful thing to behold.
The Rip Tide evokes and holds on to a mood which is reflective at times and only slightly tinged with the realism found at the fantastic edges of love, it’s these touches which bring the listener back from the heady dreamlike state of bohemian life the lush arrangements conjure up and it’s also these that reassure amid the drama of the songs.
It’s a warm and richly rewarding album to listen to again and again that never sounds over the top or pleading for attention, it just manages to stop you dead in your tracks with its beautiful honesty and asks you to listen intently.
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