Concert Monkey takes a look at 20 of the best albums of 2014

Not a countdown. Not a Top 20.

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At the beginning of this year in January, Efrim Menuck released his seventh album with Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra.

Under a title that expresses at the same time anger (Fuck off, get free) and optimism (we pour light on everything), six tracks to back up a statement given in an earlier interview: ‘Rage is a good source of hope.’ An insightful album on fighting the darkness without even mentioning it, a record full of metaphors and stories about overcome abandons, desperation and dealing with frustration and pain.

An artistic endeavor, nevertheless personal. The album opens with what Efrim’s four-year-old son, Ezra is telling us: ‘We live on the island called Montreal, and we make a lot of noise because we love each other.’  And ends with a testimony on music: ‘Tout ce qu’on peut dire c’est que la musique c’est vraiment une façon de vivre et pas quelque chose qu’on fait pendant le week-end. It’s what you are, it’s how you live, it’s the things that you do.’

Genre: experimental

Track listing

‘Fuck Off Get Free (For the Island of Montreal)’ – 10:22
‘Austerity Blues’ – 14:17
‘Take Away These Early Grave Blues’ – 6:47
‘Little Ones Run’ – 2:29
‘What We Loved Was Not Enough’ – 11:22
‘Rains Thru the Roof at Thee Grande Ballroom (For Capital Steez)’ – 3:57

Personnel

Thierry Amar: Upright bass, electric bass, plucked piano, vocals
Efrim Menuck: Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mellotron, vocals
Jessica Moss: Violin, plucked piano, vocals
Sophie Trudeau: Violin, plucked piano, vocals
David Payant: Drums, organ, vocals

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra toured to support the new album in February and they were present in Brussels in Botanique. This year, Efrim Menuck will come back, this time with Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Concert review: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Eric Chenaux @Botanique Orangerie, Brussels – 27 February 2014