Fierce Bad Rabbit--"Maestro and the Elephant"
Fierce Bad Rabbit, a quartet from Colorado, epitomizes indie folk-rock in its latest album, The Maestro and the Elephant. With steady rock ‘n’ roll rhythms, folksy vocals, and catchy melodies, Fierce Bad Rabbit has created an outstanding album that captures its unique sound. The band, formed in 2009, has been compared to Arcade Fire, The Shins, The National, Wilco, and Delta Spirit. Although the associations may seem lofty, Fierce Bad Rabbit lives up to the comparisons especially with their fourth and latest album.
The Maestro and the Elephant begins with a track entitled “Wildflowers” that has been growing in popularity ever since the album’s release in January 2013. The beautiful, yet empowering song is a testament to Chris Anderson and Alana Rolfe’s impeccable vocals. Similarly, “Until We Are Dust,” “Better Days,” and “Carry On” highlight Anderson and Rolfe’s perfectly synced voices.
The most impressive aspect of the album is the unique nature of each song. While “The Devil Smells Like Country” has a folksy vibe with an abundance of rhythm guitar, “Here’s Looking At You” resembles a rock ballad with extravagant build-ups. While “When All You Got Is Worry…Let Go” could make anyone want to whistle and dance around after a stressful day, “Shooting Stars” could make anyone want to cry and reevaluate the meaning of life. Even though each song has such a unique vibe, the whole album is bound together with Rolfe’s impressive viola that can either produce a haunting, beautiful, or folksy effect depending on the song.
If Fierce Bad Rabbit isn’t in your music library yet, Maestro and the Elephant would be the perfect first addition. However, if you dig albums in which “all the songs start to sound the same,” Fierce Bad Rabbit’s fourth album is not for you.
