rasputina

frustration plantation

'Often described as a Gothic Victorian cello-rock ensemble, Rasputina is bound to creep you the hell out.

Or not. They make music that T-Bone Burnett is bound to select for a film at some point. That is, if the Coen brothers ever made a Goth flick.

Cellos, drums, voice. That's the only formula this trio uses to make music. It's unique, to say the least.

After getting past the initial shock, the songs lend themselves to an unclassifiable but more approachable nature.

I'm not sure what it is or how to describe it. In that task, I've definitely failed. If a matter of personal opinion makes a difference, though, the songs begin humorously and soon turn to depressing. Nearly all of them remind me of that Crash Test Dummies song, "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm."

The album is different than just about anything else you'll ever here and that novelty may be just enough reason to purchase this album. The songs are misplaced by a century and a quarter but that's no reason for the record to just go directly on the shelf to collect dust. Give it at least one listen first.