The Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
by Dan MacIntosh
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The Villagers is the vehicle for Conor J. O'Brien's bitter pill pop songs. He sounds a lot like the old David Gray, back when that fine singer/songwriter had a whole lot more vitriol in his songs. But O'Brien's work differs from early Gray songs in that you rarely had any questions regarding what exactly David was singing about. It's not always so clear with O'Brien, however. Nevertheless, this music is never less than compelling.
Sometimes, O'Brien can be downright creepy. Yes, "I Saw the Dead" may be some kind of metaphor or something. But when he announces, "You take the torso/I'll take the head," it gives me the willies. There is also a sweet side to what O'Brien does. On "The Meaning of the Ritual", O'Brien admits, "My love is selfish." But it's hard to hold that statement against him, especially because he couches his words in a song as slow and gentle as a church hymn. "27 Strangers" also leaves the listener curious, as it details the journey of multiple strangers thrown together on a bus ride.
Stylistically, these songs can range from jazzy, as on "Set the Tigers Free", to "The Pact", which is upbeat and nearly rock & roll. O'Brien, who titles one early song "Becoming a Jackal", returns to those animalistic ways with "Pieces". He confesses, "I've been in pieces," and then spends much of the track howling like a wolf.
O'Brien's un-approachability is what makes Becoming a Jackal a good rather than a great album. Like jackals and wolves, which you watch and respect at a distance, O'Brien is a fascinating curiosity, instead of an embraceable treasure. Granted, O'Brien's songs are so much more literate than what is played on the radio today. But he'd be even more affective with just a little more straight talk mixed in.
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