ALBUM OF THE WEEK
FOLK We Are Going To Bremen To Be Musicians Geoff Berner (Coax)
“When Mayor Happy Planet says ‘ecodensity,’ what does he really mean?” sings klezmer-folk singer-songwriter Geoff Berner on the opening track to his latest album We Are Going To Bremen To Be Musicians. The answer is, of course, condos — because it’s true and because that’s the name of the song. Berner goes on to paint a sardonic sonic picture of Vancouver, taking a not-so-subtle swipe at developers, politicians, apathetic citizens, and everyone in between.
There’s a rambunctious rawness to We Are Going To Bremen ..., and Berner — as is his trademark — pulls no punches.
On the followup to 2011’s Victory Party, Berner goes back to his small club roots. Once again featuring the stellar production work of Montreal’s Josh “Socalled” Dolgin, Bremen has the feel of a rally where Berner eviscerates the politicians that would use religion in the name of murder (cue: Dance and Celebrate), turning a dark and depressing matter into a huge party song filled with levity and the sound of fiddles, standup bass, and Berner’s punk-inflected accordion.
On Thank You No Thank You, Berner sings, “I suppose we should be grateful now they hate some people more, I was raised to be polite so I say thank you, nationalist scumbags, for your support,” lobbing his spite at the decision-makers in the Middle East.
No religion or policy is safe from Berner’s sarcastic barbs, and he skewers the holiday season (from all sides) on When Chanukah Comes To Town.
It wouldn’t be so hilarious if it wasn’t as equally heartbreaking. With We Are Going To Bremen ..., Berner confirms he is still one of the finest musical caricaturists around.