ColumbusAndrew Dost
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Released: Dec. 2, 2008
Label: Paper + Plastick
Review by: Bill Jones
The debut solo album from Andrew Dost, formerly of Anathallo, is a concept album, or maybe the music to a play, or maybe a musical, loosely based on the stories of Christopher Columbus. It is aptly titled, Columbus.
While this reviewer would be the first in line to write-off the idea as ridiculously pretentious, self-indulgent and just downright silly, Dost’s musical talents – and an assortment of cameos from musicians such as Nate Ruess, of The Format, and Chris Fafalios and Steve Soboslai of Punchline – bring the DIY project together into something strangely, unavoidably appealing.
From the album’s opener, “Overture (Come Morning, Come Morning),” Columbus feels exactly like what it is, an indie-infused high school or college musical written by an incredibly creative and ambitious student. Dost reportedly penned a play about Columbus in his college days, and went back to the project and finally brought the songs to life with the help of Protools and some friends.
From the gang vocals and the solos of a crew introducing itself in “What’s An Adventure Without a Crew,” to the ever unfolding story that is told from song to song, to the plot twist in “One Many Mutiny,” to the stage piano that works its way through each song, every second of Columbus begs the listener to imagine the play unfurling on stage, all leading up to the big medley at the end.
It works in large part because Dost has a good sense of humor about the project, with song titles like “Dude! I See Land” and his liberal retelling of history. It also works because he is an incredibly talented musician who is able to write, perform, record and produce everything himself. Columbus is brilliant in every respect, with catchy tunes and entertaining lyrics from track 1 to 17.
*Note: The album was reviewed with a digital copy provided by Paper + Plastick. The album is also available in vinyl, reportedly in maroon or amber swirl, with a 12-inch by 16-inch color cover and “secret envelope.” Anything that makes or breaks the physical purchase of Columbus was not covered in this review.
While this reviewer would be the first in line to write-off the idea as ridiculously pretentious, self-indulgent and just downright silly, Dost’s musical talents – and an assortment of cameos from musicians such as Nate Ruess, of The Format, and Chris Fafalios and Steve Soboslai of Punchline – bring the DIY project together into something strangely, unavoidably appealing.
From the album’s opener, “Overture (Come Morning, Come Morning),” Columbus feels exactly like what it is, an indie-infused high school or college musical written by an incredibly creative and ambitious student. Dost reportedly penned a play about Columbus in his college days, and went back to the project and finally brought the songs to life with the help of Protools and some friends.
From the gang vocals and the solos of a crew introducing itself in “What’s An Adventure Without a Crew,” to the ever unfolding story that is told from song to song, to the plot twist in “One Many Mutiny,” to the stage piano that works its way through each song, every second of Columbus begs the listener to imagine the play unfurling on stage, all leading up to the big medley at the end.
It works in large part because Dost has a good sense of humor about the project, with song titles like “Dude! I See Land” and his liberal retelling of history. It also works because he is an incredibly talented musician who is able to write, perform, record and produce everything himself. Columbus is brilliant in every respect, with catchy tunes and entertaining lyrics from track 1 to 17.
*Note: The album was reviewed with a digital copy provided by Paper + Plastick. The album is also available in vinyl, reportedly in maroon or amber swirl, with a 12-inch by 16-inch color cover and “secret envelope.” Anything that makes or breaks the physical purchase of Columbus was not covered in this review.
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