Hospice (album)
Encyclopedia
Hospice is the critically acclaimed third studio album
by American
indie rock
group The Antlers
, and their first concept album
. It was initially self-distributed by the band in March 2009, and was eventually remastered and re-released once they signed to Frenchkiss Records
in August.
Hospice tells the story of a relationship between a hospice
worker and terminally-ill
patient. Frontman Peter Silberman has been reluctant to divulge explicit details regarding the meaning of the record, and the extent to which it is autobiographical.
endorsed the re-release of Hospice with their "Best New Music" stamp. At the end of the year, the same publication named it the 37th best album of 2009, praising its "power to emotionally destroy listeners." Fan review sites like Rate Your Music
and Amazon MP3
have placed the album in its list of Top 10 Albums of 2009. Popular music blog 20 Watts gave it a rating of 18/20 Watts and praised the album's "realism and its sadness, found in its most abrasive lyrics and most expressive instrumental segments." NPR Music
placed the album in the #1 position for their Top 10 of early 2009 list. Onethirtybpm named it the best album of 2009. Rhapsody online
deemed it the 24th best album of 2009.
" in April 2009 to promote the self-released version of Hospice. "Two
" was the first single released commercially as a digital download in June 2009. The song's music video features a combination of photography and cutout animation
, and was directed by Ethan Segal and Albert Thrower. In the United Kingdom
, "Bear" was released on 7" vinyl on November 16, 2009, featuring an exclusive remix of "Bear" by Darby Cicci on the B-side. Additionally, an exclusive live recording of "Sylvia" at The Orchard in New York City
was released as a download on November 17, 2009. "Sylvia" was issued as the third proper single on March 22, 2010. A music video was produced for the song, directed by Trey Hock, and premiered on the IFC
's website on April 15, 2010.
Production
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
group The Antlers
The Antlers (band)
The Antlers are an indie rock band currently based in Brooklyn, New York, fronted by Peter Silberman.-History:Initially, The Antlers was a solo project created by vocalist and guitarist Peter Silberman immediately after he had moved to Brooklyn, New York. Silberman wrote the first two albums,...
, and their first concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
. It was initially self-distributed by the band in March 2009, and was eventually remastered and re-released once they signed to Frenchkiss Records
Frenchkiss Records
Frenchkiss Records is an independent record label based in New York, New York. The label was started in 1999 by Syd Butler, bassist and founder of Les Savy Fav...
in August.
Hospice tells the story of a relationship between a hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
worker and terminally-ill
Terminal illness
Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
patient. Frontman Peter Silberman has been reluctant to divulge explicit details regarding the meaning of the record, and the extent to which it is autobiographical.
Reception
The album has generated very positive reviews. Pitchfork MediaPitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
endorsed the re-release of Hospice with their "Best New Music" stamp. At the end of the year, the same publication named it the 37th best album of 2009, praising its "power to emotionally destroy listeners." Fan review sites like Rate Your Music
Rate Your Music
Rate Your Music is a metadata database where musical albums, EPs, singles, videos, bootlegs, and movies are rated and reviewed by users. This data is then used to generate recommendations for users and to create rated lists of albums...
and Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3 is an online music store owned and operated by Amazon.com. Launched in public beta on September 25, 2007, in January 2008 it became the first music store to sell music without digital rights management from the four major music labels , as well as many independents...
have placed the album in its list of Top 10 Albums of 2009. Popular music blog 20 Watts gave it a rating of 18/20 Watts and praised the album's "realism and its sadness, found in its most abrasive lyrics and most expressive instrumental segments." NPR Music
NPR Music
NPR Music launched in November 2007 to present public radio music programming and original editorial content for music discovery. The Web site is a project of National Public Radio, a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to 797...
placed the album in the #1 position for their Top 10 of early 2009 list. Onethirtybpm named it the best album of 2009. Rhapsody online
Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody is an online music store subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version...
deemed it the 24th best album of 2009.
Singles
The first single was "BearBear (song)
"Bear" is the first single from The Antlers' studio album Hospice. The song was released as a digital download in April 2009 to promote the self-released version of Hospice, then released in the United Kingdom on 7" vinyl on November 16, 2009...
" in April 2009 to promote the self-released version of Hospice. "Two
Two (song)
"Two" is the second single from The Antlers' studio album Hospice. Following the self-released pressing of Hospice and a download-only single release for "Bear" in April 2009, "Two" was the first official single released from the album after being signed to Frenchkiss Records in May...
" was the first single released commercially as a digital download in June 2009. The song's music video features a combination of photography and cutout animation
Cutout animation
Cutout animation is a technique for producing animations using flat characters, props and backgrounds cut from materials such as paper, card, stiff fabric or even photographs...
, and was directed by Ethan Segal and Albert Thrower. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, "Bear" was released on 7" vinyl on November 16, 2009, featuring an exclusive remix of "Bear" by Darby Cicci on the B-side. Additionally, an exclusive live recording of "Sylvia" at The Orchard in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
was released as a download on November 17, 2009. "Sylvia" was issued as the third proper single on March 22, 2010. A music video was produced for the song, directed by Trey Hock, and premiered on the IFC
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
's website on April 15, 2010.
Track listing
All songs written by Peter Silberman.- "Prologue" – 2:35
- "Kettering" – 5:10
- "Sylvia" – 5:27
- "Atrophy" – 7:40
- "BearBear (song)"Bear" is the first single from The Antlers' studio album Hospice. The song was released as a digital download in April 2009 to promote the self-released version of Hospice, then released in the United Kingdom on 7" vinyl on November 16, 2009...
" – 3:54 - "Thirteen" – 3:11
- "TwoTwo (song)"Two" is the second single from The Antlers' studio album Hospice. Following the self-released pressing of Hospice and a download-only single release for "Bear" in April 2009, "Two" was the first official single released from the album after being signed to Frenchkiss Records in May...
" – 5:56 - "Shiva" – 3:45
- "Wake" – 8:44
- "Epilogue" – 5:25
Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | March 23, 2009 | The Antlers Music | CD | 7 26167-4620-2 3 |
| August 18, 2009 | Frenchkiss Records Frenchkiss Records Frenchkiss Records is an independent record label based in New York, New York. The label was started in 1999 by Syd Butler, bassist and founder of Les Savy Fav... |
CD (remastered) | FKR041-2 | |
| LP | FKR041-1 | |||
| United Kingdom | October 19, 2009 | Frenchkiss/Studio !K7 | CD | FK041CD |
Credits
Personnel- Peter Silberman – vocals, guitar, accordion, harmonica, harp, keyboards
- Darby Cicci – trumpet, bowed banjo
- Michael Lerner – drums, percussion
- Justin Stivers – bass
- Sharon Van EttenSharon Van EttenSharon Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York City.Her songs were described by the music website Pitchfork Media as having "some echoes of folk tradition but generally in a more personal, introspective space." NPR Music asserts: "Her songs are heartfelt without being...
– vocals on "Thirteen"
Production
- Recorded at Watcher's Woods, Brooklyn
- Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
- Artwork by Zan Goodman
- Design by Darby Cicci