Red of Tooth and Claw

Infobox Album | Name = Red of Tooth and Claw
Released = March 4, 2008
Type = Album
Artist = Murder by Death


Genre = Indie
Length = 37:21
Label = Vagrant Records
Producer = Trina Shoemaker
Reviews = * AbsolutePunk.net (89%) [http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=301204 link]
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:a9frxzrjldje link]
* Alternative Press Rating|4|5 [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/murderbydeath/redoftoothandclaw link]
* A.V. Club (C+) [http://www.avclub.com/content/music/murder_by_death link]
* The Daily Iowan Rating|3.5|5 [http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2008/03/04/Arts/Album.Reviews-3249434.shtml link]
* Filter (84%) [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/murderbydeath/redoftoothandclaw link]
* Spin Rating|3|5 [http://www.spin.com/reviews/murder-death-red-tooth-and-claw-vagrant link]
* Sputnikmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review_15367 link]
Last album = "In Bocca Al Lupo" (2006)
This album = "Red of Tooth and Claw" (2008)
Next album = —

"Red of Tooth and Claw" is the fourth full-length album release by Murder by Death and marks the first record the band has released on the Vagrant record label. The title comes from a Lord Tennyson poem called In Memoriam A.H.H. It was recorded by Grammy winning producer Trina Shoemaker at Dark Horse Studios in Tennessee and was released on Vagrant Records, on March 4, 2008.

"Red of Tooth and Claw" is, as singer/guitarist Adam Turla puts it, a "Homer's Odyssey of revenge, only without the honorable character at the center."

Track listing

# "Comin' Home" - 3:35
# "Ball & Chain" - 3:02
# "Rumbrave" - 3:06
# "Fuego!" - 4:11
# "Theme (for Ennio Morricone)" - 2:49
# "A Second Opinion" - 3:19
# "Steal Away" - 2:05
# "Ash" - 3:32
# "The Black Spot" - 3:21
# "'52 Ford" - 2:25
# "Spring Break 1899" - 5:56

Reception

Overall, critical reception has been positive. The album holds a score of 72% on Metacritic. [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/murderbydeath/redoftoothandclaw] Allmusic states "...a taut, tense, elegant delivery...". Alternative Press giving the album four stars, says "They've finally realized their full potential...".

On the other hand, The Onion feels the album "...downplays Murder by Death's power to frighten listeners and conjure up dust storms." Spin feels it "...runs low on contemporary touchstones or appeal."

Personnel

* Adam Turla - lead vocals, guitars, keyboards
* Sarah Balliet - cello
* Dagan Thogerson - drums, percussion
* Matt Armstrong - bass
* Vincent Edwards - keyboards on "Ball and Chain"

References