There’s a scene in almost every western movie where the protagonist is atop a horse, trotting along a dusty path towards the horizon. It’s filmed from behind for effect as if to further prove the point that he/she is leaving something important behind and headed off into the unknown. Hiss Golden Messenger is, in essence, the musical equivalent of that scene and Terms of Surrender – which oddly enough, kind of sounds like the title of a Netflix western mini-series – is certainly no different.
All Hiss records tend to gallop along at the same relative pace, and there’s comfort in that. To make another analogy (I’m full of them today), think of it like a big plate of mac-and-cheese. There are plenty of little variations one can make, but at the end of the day, you know what you’re going to get. And it’s always delicious. Unless you make it with Swiss cheese, in which case you might be a communist.
But, I digress. Point being, MC Taylor, the architect behind HGM, operates at a level of consistency most songwriters would kill for. And not only that, but he does so with an equally impressive prolificacy – seriously, he averages about an album and some one-off singles every year.
Terms of Surrender – which I think is his tenth record? It’s honestly hard to tell – kicks off with the catchiest of the set, ‘I Need A Teacher’. Taylor’s raspy croon is as smooth and inviting as ever, and the subtle vocal flourishes from special guest Jenny Lewis add a nice touch. What follows are nine more acoustic-led folk songs perfectly suited for the Midwest landscape of America, backed by a band that tightly sticks together like glue. And, having The National’s Aaron Dessner behind the scenes is always a plus, though his influence is far less evident than on a lot of the records he produces. If it ain’t broke, as they say…
There are a few times on this where Taylor meanders a bit instrumentally, sort of like that aforementioned cowboy wandering in unfamiliar territory. But other than that, the songs are a master class in endearing Americana-with-a-side-of-soul. Just like pretty much all of his songs.
I can’t say this record is any better than the other records he’s released in the last five years. Can’t say it’s any worse either. Like I said – he’s ridiculously consistent. And in a time when things are constantly changing and far too quickly, consistency is very much appreciated. Keep it up, MC.
Haiku Review:
Terms of Surrender,
Trots through country landscapes and
Sounds like coming home,
Listen to Hiss Golden Messenger on Spotify and Apple Music.
