Carnival of Souls is an album by the American band Pere Ubu, released in 2014.[2][3] The title is taken from the 1962 film, for which the band had created an underscore.[4][2] "Irene" was released as a single.[5]
| Carnival of Souls | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2014 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Label | Fire Records[1] | |||
| Producer | David Thomas | |||
| Pere Ubu chronology | ||||
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Production
The album was written while Pere Ubu toured Europe in support of Lady from Shanghai.[6] Darryl Boon joined the band on clarinet.[7] In addition to the film, Pere Ubu was inspired by Van der Graaf Generator's Pawn Hearts.[8]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Drowned in Sound | 8/10[7] |
| Record Collector | [10] |
Record Collector wrote that the album "scrapes up enough sporadic excellence to justify David Thomas’ perseverance in the 21st-century scheme of things."[10] Greil Marcus, in The Believer, thought that the lead track "Golden Surf II" "shoots out like a flood, and then you can ride the wave of transmorgrification that sweeps over the whole album."[11] The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel determined that the band "still challenges itself and its listeners on its unsettling, menacing circus of a latest disc."[12]
AllMusic noted that "'Dr. Faustus', one of the album's most score-like pieces, combines metallic percussion, spare guitars and David Thomas' muttered vocals into something rustic and rickety, yet threatening at a moment's notice."[9]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Pere Ubu.
CD version
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Golden Surf II" | 4:10 |
| 2. | "Drag the River" | 4:01 |
| 3. | "Visions of the Moon" | 3:33 |
| 4. | "Dr Faustus" | 4:22 |
| 5. | "Bus Station" | 4:28 |
| 6. | "Road to Utah" | 4:20 |
| 7. | "Carnival" | 5:01 |
| 8. | "Irene" | 4:13 |
| 9. | "Brother Ray" | 12:02 |
LP version
Side A
- Golden Surf II - 4:10
- Strychnine 1 - 1:05
- Drag The River - 4:01
- Strychnine 2 - 1:00
- Visions Of The Moon - 3:33
- Strychnine 3 - 1:01
- Dr. Faustus - 4:22
Side B
- Strychnine 4 - 1:01
- Bus Station - 4:28
- Road To Utah - 4:20
- Carnival - 5:01
- Strychnine 5 - 1:00
- Irene - 4:13