The Paper Cranes — Chivalry's Dead

The Paper Cranes are frequently mentioned in the same breath as the Arcade Fire, and it's true that certain songs on Chivalry's Dead — like "Solid Clouds" — would put them on par with the ubiquitous Montrealers. For the majority of this second full-length, however, the B.C. duo (expanded to a five-piece for recording) carve their own disjointed path.

It's hard to place The Paper Cranes in any one genre. There's an aura of haphazardness at the core of Chivalry's Dead that's reminiscent of They Shoot Horses Don't They? and The Week That Was. Tracks alternate between hefty guitar rock, irresistible dance pop ("Black Centipedes" would fit perfectly into Tonight: Franz Ferdinand), and piano-fueled balladry. Throughout it all, The Paper Cranes employ keyboards in the same skillful way that the Handsome Furs did on Face Control.

This identity crisis doesn't seem to harm Chivalry's Dead in the long run. It's over quickly, but it definitely leaves an impression. The title track as well as mid-album cut "The Cavalier" may be the most fun you'll have listening to music this year.

Get it from