Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova | ONCE AGAIN The Swell Season
Image credit: Todd Owyoung/Retna Ltd.
ONCE AGAIN The Swell Season
Music Review

Strict Joy (2009)

EW's GRADE
B

Details Release Date: Oct 27, 2009; Lead Performance: The Swell Season; Genres: Folk, Rock

After falling in love on screen and off, Once's Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová quit dating. On Strict Joy, their slow-strummed Americana has gone from wistful to blubbering-into-your-Guinness sad, with words like ''rain'' and ''hurt'' harmonized over plinking piano keys. Occasionally, all that lamenting gets nap-inducing. Luckily, Hansard saves some rage for ''Feeling the Pull,'' which suggests the best love songs come from those who don't believe in them anymore. B

Download This: Listen to the song Feeling the Pull at myspace.com

See all of this week's reviews

Originally posted Oct 28, 2009 Published in issue #1074 Nov 06, 2009 Order article reprints

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