Apparently, this week will be a homage to the road trip back from Boston. In addition to being introduced to Joey Eppard and his masterpiece 3, Steve also showed me an ambitious and incredibly original project called The Dear Hunter. Started as a side project by Casey Crescenzo, of the hardcore band The Receiving End of Sirens, The Dear Hunter is one of the most instrumentally diverse and strangely written projects I've ever experienced.
His first (and intended to be only) release, Dear Ms. Leading, was a huge outlet for Crescenzo, who simply didn't find himself gelling with the heavier sound of Sirens. The project was such a draw that Crescenzo began focusing all of his time on Hunter and was subsequently kicked out of Sirens. This was perhaps the best thing that could have ever happened to him.
No longer burdened by the creative pitfalls of another project, Crescenzo began to develop massive arrangements and complex song which stitched together to form concept albums (3 which have been completed of an intended 6) about the birth, life and abrupt death of a boy known only as (fittingly) The Dear Hunter.
The songwriting is very progressive, incorporates huge amounts of vocal layering and brilliant harmonies and has some exceptionally witty lyrics and titles. I wish I could write music this innovative.
-I'll tear out my own heart and mail it to you so you know it won't miss a beat