David Baerwald - Triage (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

An Unheralded Work of Substance and Vision

Todd and In Charge | Miami, FL | 02/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one album that does not deserve its obscurity -- it's a staggering, monumental concept album of decay, corruption, and cobbled-together life amid the angels and demons of modern American society. Serious themes, presented in an antiseptic yet apocalyptic fashion, drive home the deep skepticism of the artist toward our leaders, our corporate culture, and our ever-coarsening society. Try to imagine Steely Dan, with Tom Waits on board, only more cynical and jaded, and you have started to capture the mood of Triage. Truly not what you would expect from a member of David and David, this album is a Los Angeles bookend to Roger Water's equally bleak Amused to Death. A must-have if you are in a bad mood (or want to be in one)."

Now More Than Ever

Robert Carlberg | Seattle | 04/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an album I bought when it first came out, in 1992, and I played it to death. Baerwald's gleeful cynicism and weary pessimism were perfectly in tune with the "read-my-lips" presidency of George H.W. Bush. The nihilistic lyrics and extravagant production made an interesting dynamic contrast, and I found Baerwald's take on the issues of the day -- AIDS, nuclear armeggedon, homelessness, government corruption and corporate greed -- to be invigorating.

Then January '93 rolled around and Bush was ceremoniously thrown out of office. In the giddy optimism of the era [misplaced, it turned out], Baerwald's relentless negativity sounded completely out of place and I couldn't listen to this album anymore.

Ten years passed. Suddenly I kept hearing new bands that reminded me of "Triage" -- The Books, Aki Peltonen, Clothesline Revival, Robert Een, Johann Johannsson -- eventually the draw became irresistible and I had to buy "Triage" again.

And you know what? It's 1992 all over again. Only worse."

Thinker's Rock

J. Merritt | 12/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Triage" is the somber wake-up call to 1990's "Bedtime Stories." Where the first album had its moments of humor and light, "Triage" is a headlong journey into hearts of darkness; sexual degradation, defeated love, Bremerian isolation, government abuse, and blind cultism, to name a few. Stylistically, it varies with its subject matter, from the languid and haunting pace of "Secret Silken World" and "Brand New Morning," to the mechanical chopping of "Got No Shotgun Hydra Head Octopus Blues," to the bitten-off beats of "The Waiter," to the spare notes of "China Lake" and "The Postman." It isn't as easy an album to like as "Bedtime Stories," but it's every bit as good and even more thought-provoking. Springsteen sells more copies, but Baerwald has more to say. Now if only it were possible to actually buy it."

A perfect analysis of an imperfect system

Antoine Légat | Hansbeke Belgium | 02/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When ,,Triage'' was first released, I had the honor and pleasure to review it for a monthly mag. I was swept away, even more than with ,,Bedtime Stories''. I listened again a short while ago and my opinion hasn't changed a bit: this album is pure and simple perfection, from the title and art work, over the succulent Beach Boys pastiche and eerie trumpet playing of Herb Alpert, accompanying the lure of the nightlife called ,,A Secret Silken World'' (a helluva song!), all the way to the final ,,Born For Love'', an ultimate, unexpected and heavenly Wiedergutmachung for the unabashed criticism on Reaganism the album displays almost throughout. One has only to go into the recording finesse (the samples are a real find-the-hidden-faces!) or analyse the lyrics, drenched in irony, full of dark humour and crammed with flashy puns and clever references far above the standards of ,,pop'' music, erudite, scholarly and yet pure rock `n roll. So the songs, well written, immensely diverse and poignant in their delivery, are as well great fun as meaningful in their social comment. No flaws, no fill ups, no loss of pace. And despite the hypochondriac ponderings, which would normally be sufficient to keep you wallowing in the mire, there's a heart beating, there's a firm belief in moral values (not the Reagan kind of morality, though) If you have to put it in one word, then ,,balance'' springs to mind. One would tend to forget, after all the louange and praise, what a brilliant...singer Mr. Baerwald is here, actually living his song's characters. After careful...triage of the many candidates, I found ,,Triage'' to be the best overall album of the nineties and one of the best of all times. And ,,The Waiter'' one of the best tunes of all times: ,,...though I must recommend the oysters hollandaise, I am told it increases your ardour...'' Yeah..."

Unfluffy

Kevin Connolly | Simpson, PA United States | 03/10/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This cd certainly doesn't go down easy at all times, but contains some of Baerwald's most adventerous and heartfelt songs to date. Baerwald should be congratulated for flexing his sardonic wit and reaching deep inside for some truely moving music. It is my personal opinion of course but I consider everything from the instrumentation to the lyrical content some of the best of his career, making the disc continually challenging and enjoyable with each new listen. Saw David in Austin and he performed at least three of these songs some of the strongest of the set."

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