Beirut: The Rip Tide

Lucky for us all, NPR Music has given the album its exclusive first listen treatment, streaming The Rip Tide in its entirety before its release...

By Michael Lopez

August 8, 2011

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Lucky for us all, NPR Music has given the album its exclusive first listen treatment, streaming The Rip Tide in its entirety before its release.

The two song arc of the titular "The Rip Tide" and "Vagabond" is easily an album highlight -- the former song's mellow moodiness segues tidily into the latter's jangly, upbeat pianos and brazen horns. It's a subtle dichotomy that Condon has since mastered at this point in his rather celebrated career.

There is plenty of substance spread throughout the entirety of The Rip Tide. "Santa Fe," an homage to Condon's hometown, matches up perfectly with the calculated irreverence of lead single "East Harlem." The Rip Tide is sure to become a favorite album of many, slowly becoming a perfect remedy to the long, dog days of late summer.

The Rip Tide is out 8/30 via Pompeii Records and is streaming in its entirety via NPR Music. Track list is as follows:

01 A Candle's Fire
02 Santa Fe
03 East Harlem
04 Goshen
05 Payne's Bay
06 The Rip Tide
07 Vagabond
08 The Peacock
09 Port of Call

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Michael Lopez

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