Eastward Travels: Beirut here I come

***UPDATE: download these songs now! Postcards from Italy and Mount Worclai (Idle Days) ***

I finally gave in. After seeing their name everywhere over the past few weeks, the temptation became too much to resist. It backed me into a corner, and now all I can yell is, “Beirut! Beirut! Beirut!” The exclamation points are definitely on purpose there, and since I like to hinder the use of such things, take it as a vital warning to you all. This is something you need to hear.

With its eastern tinged mandolin and hand drums, singer Zach Condon’s warble sounds like the leader of a kulak exodus marching through a sea of Red and White soldiers, on its way to the Caucuses. More vagabond than crusader, more Russian than Brooklyn, Beirut captures the essence of bands like Neutral Milk Hotel and Devotchka without sounding like it copied the others’ blueprints. Their sound is all their own, and comes to shake its feet on our welcome mats as an invitation for a pleasant escape from the guitar based rock that has become the standard.

Brooklyn Vegan has the list of where you can find everything you need to know about Beirut from everyone you need to know it from.