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Willard Grant Conspiracy - Pilgrim Road

Willard Grant Conspiracy
Pilgrim Road

One of my favorite bands, the Willard Grant Conspiracy, released a new album at the beginning of May. Although it is meant to be a continuation of “Regard The End” (2003) it seems to be musically aligned with “Let It Roll” (2006). Topically, however, it is definitely the successor to “Regard The End” with an abundance of religious/spiritual themed lyrics. In addition to these aspects, it is also the first time the Robert Fisher has attempted to write and arrange an album containing many musicians - dubbed the “Willard Grant Conspiracy Orchestra” in their tour schedule. All personal critiques aside, it is a huge change in style, and one that should be commended.

Robert Fisher’s wavering bass conveys a feeling of emptiness and solitude, and while it doesn’t always mesh with the orchestral arrangements, it is the perfect instrument for his lyrics. “Lost Hours” pushes into a lush stringed arrangement toward the end - similar to the choral buildup in the following “The Great Deceiver.” Maybe I’m used to looser production, but it was at this point that I became very skeptical of the additions being made to the standard instrumentalization of WGC. The choral arrangement is tight and a little overpowering, effectively draining the emotion from Fisher’s own voice.

The segue into “Jerusalem Bells” is smooth, and the feeling once again slips briefly into the simplicity I am accustomed to. “The Pugilist” provides dispersed and soulful choral and string accompaniment, giving the album its first possible single. One is immediately reminded of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer,” but there doesn’t seem to be any relation to the two. The album continues along this theme until “Miracle On 8th Street” and my self-appointed favorite from the album “Painter Blue.” The album finishes with the slow, spacious “Vespers” and an short untitled (Great Deceiver reprise) track.

Reactions:
I really like the album, but it took a few times through the album to really start warming up. Listening in my headphone was not the way to go, as the feel of the album is more meant to emulate an open space - one which just doesn’t work in my headphones. For some reason it just doesn’t translate right, and the high notes and reverb just tend to annoy me. As soon as I put it through the stereo the dynamics really came to life and made much more sense to me. I would love to hear this album on vinyl, through a beat-up tube amp. Something to kill the details and dirty up the sound might make all the difference.

As far as the songwriting goes, I like it. Its not a focused as “Regard the End,” but it at least follows a general theme that is accessible to audiences. It doesn’t contain an easily-identifiable single like “Regard the End” and “Let It Roll” did, but I prefer the use of an overall theme over singles anyway. The album flows from one song to the next, rather than jumping from song to song. After a few full listens the concept comes across a little easier than if you were to just listen to several songs.

Willard Grant Conspiracy - The Great Deceiver

Willard Grant Conspiracy - Painter Blue

Check out an excellent interview with Robert Fisher at Song By Toad.

Buy Pilgrim Road on Amazon (pre-release for June 24th).