by David Wilikofsky
Philadelphia sextet (and sometimes septet) The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick share their name with a Wim Wenders movie; I only know this because the film is the first thing that shows up when you google them. The movie is the story of a goalkeeper who murders a woman and then moves back to his hometown to hide in plain sight. Given the music on their latest album,The Iliad and the Odyssey and the Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick, I can only assume the band chose the name merely because of its evocative nature; there’s little hint of the menace or disaffection explored by Wenders in anything they do. The Iliad… is an open hearted, ambitious followup to The Goalie’s debut album, one that swings for the fences and mostly connects.
There are a lot of names that popped into my head while I listened to The Iliad… At some points the group sounded like a more homespun Black Country, New Road; at others they felt like some long lost midwest emo or twee pop legend. A track like “April 25”, the album’s lead single, is a perfect synthesis of the album’s strengths. Its lyrics are plainspoken, even banal; the singer looks forward to celebrating a birthday with their friend, detailing the things they might do (giving presents, maybe going out and having some food and a drink). The music in the background is gentle yet emotive: a quietly plucked guitar melody, a swooping string part, a steady rhythm section. It’s simple but affecting, like most of the best stuff here.
The band’s ambition is evident from the album’s marathon title, but sometimes that ambition causes a misfire. Album opener “Leaf” feels incomplete, the impact of its slow build dulled by its abrupt end. “Claire de Lune”, a performance of the classic Debussy composition on bells, feels completely out of place as the album closer; it’s pretty but to my ears has no connection to anything that proceeded it. But I appreciate even these less successful experiments because they belie a sense of adventurousness and willingness to stretch themselves. Perhaps there are kernels of ideas in these tracks that will come into full bloom on future records. Until then, The Iliad… provides plenty to enjoy.