The Choir – O How The Mighty Have Fallen
Label: Self-Release
Style: Alternative, Indie Rock
Released: 2005
My Grade: 4 stars
AMG: n/a
Sounds like: Hammock, Common Children, U2, The 77’s


With star gazing imagery, lofty lyrics and swirling guitar tones The Choir tries to bridge the gap between the drudgery of life and the sublime and they accomplish that task quite wonderfully.

Rarely are such honest albums ever assembled. These ten songs that are offered to us from The Choir discusses openly everyday things that we all deal with directly and indirectly. The thread that runs through this record is the need for family and friends tempered by that eternal search for healing to get you beyond life’s struggles. This release reminded me of U2’s last release “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” not sonically, thematically. “She’s Alright” is a song about a person that is struggling with a tragedy in her life and is finding it hard to cope, luckily she has friends to help her “fly over the mountains.” Life is full of mountains at times and they can get us stuck in an event that we can’t seem to get over. This is very reminiscent of “Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” from U2. The song speaks about struggling to get through life and needing the help of others to make it. “O, How The Mighty Have Fallen” is a very mature record that deals with heavy issues. For example divorce is examined and touches on the human anguish and frustration it leaves in its wake. Lyrically “I Wish I Knew What To Say” is the pinnacle on this album. If you’ve ever had to deal with the pain of watching a loved one suffer and not being able to help them this song will quickly become a favorite of yours. In the midst of these hurting subjects are upbeat moments like “Fine Fun Time,” which includes probably one of the most usual shout outs ever. If you’re a fan of the group Husker Du you might want to check this song out. “Nobody Gets A Smooth Ride” is a brilliant song and some of the words had me rolling on the ground laughing definitely a song that I will have on repeat for a while.

Musically the album is fairly mellow, though the lyrics add a nice tension to the music making the songs pretty intense. Musically the stand out track is the title cut. The intro starts off almost as a whisper and builds steadily it’s the perfect lead off song because it allows the listener to prepare themselves for the song and then as each layer of sound is added there is time to take each one in. The band does a great job of letting this song “breathe.” The background vocals are absolutely perfect throughout the record but they are especially beautiful on this song. If U2 (their last two albums) and Hammock recorded together it would sound something like this.

In addition, the artwork in stunning to say the least. The cover is the perfect match for these tracks. A child flying a kite, simple and profound. At the end of the day after all the strife, joy, happiness and sadness we go through don’t we all wish we could just be a child again? Not mentally or emotionally but relieved of all the baggage we have acquired through the years? To be able look up into the night sky with that child-like wonder and just sigh, not from aggravation but because of the sheer majesty of the canopy of stars.

You can hear that many times on “O How The Mighty Have Fallen.” These ten compositions will make you laugh and cry and by the close of it you will feel the soul of five guys laid bare on tape. The Choir has never been shy about wearing their hearts like a badge in their music and “O How The Mighty Have Fallen” is no exception.


Reviewed by: Aaron

Official Website: thechoir.net