Monday, April 15, 2019

Murder Person For Hire - I Thought I'd Be Dead By Now (album review)


I trust you as much as I trust anyone who doesn’t listen to this album. The debut release from Murder Person For Hire is the perfect blend of sarcasm, satire and emotional turmoil, leading the listener on a journey akin to a stage musical of life in a counterculture world of anarchy and underground house shows. It causes one to reminisce longingly of every DIY venue ever patroned, while at the same time reevaluate every situation that came out of them; Instilling the idea that, looking back, maybe everyone didn’t think and feel the way you might have thought they did at the time..
The story begins with “fishing” an epic intro that can only be heard, and “theme song” which introduces us to our main character, followed by “3edgy5me” which all seem to mark a commentary on the proverbial modern decent into the so-called folk punk scene. “Glass Body” and “Knife.mkv” take us to the next stage of turmoil for the protagonist as social pressure and confusion start to take hold, which then comes to its peak in “Get In The Fucking Robot, Shinji” a sarcastic take on giving up and giving in.
Things begin to turn around for our hero in the second act as they lash back out with tracks like “Chaotic Gender Neutral” and “Wish” that feel more personal and relatable. Then the finale stays true to the contrary nature of the story so far and takes shape in “Break All of My Fingers” followed by the paradoxical ballad “I Trust You” that leaves us with the feeling that things might never be too great for our hero, but maybe at least they are a little better off than when they started..

Album reviewed by
Colin Carroll
While spending most of the time either writing and playing music in Owls And Other Animals, or in the studio at Sleepy Owl Records, Colin also occasionally has opinions and writes them down.