Tim Kasher - The Game of Monogamy
by Paul Waller
published: 12 / 11 / 2010

Label:
Affairs of the Heart
Format: CD
intro
Refreshingly honest, but overlong and frequently half hearted debut solo album from Cursive singer, Tim Kasher
I have a Tim Kasher story. I once put on a show for the band he usually sings for, Cursive. After the concert the band returned to my flat for food and sleep. That night I cooked up a cauldron full of vegan beans in a tomato sauce and poured it over a bed of pasta. Tim was the only member that didn’t finish or want seconds. Either the man has a small stomach or thinks my cooking sucks. I hope it’s the former, although it was probably the latter. On this, the man's debut solo album he delivers the same half hearted approach as he did to the meal he ate at my place. There are some brilliant tracks on here make no mistake but there are some also pretty weak musical moments to boot. Both 'Bad Bad Dreams' and 'I’m Afraid I’m Gonna Die Here', whilst interesting enough lyrically, come across as a below par Beautiful South musically. The horns get in the way of just about everything and with both songs carrying the same tempo you’d be rightly fully confused if you struggled telling the two apart. Time and time again this happens and then along comes a song that’s simply brilliant both it’s lyrical scope and musical direction. 'Cold Love' and the more reflective, classically led lament 'There Must Be Something I’ve Lost' capture the spirit of this Kasher best. It also contains the best line on the album. “The world don’t revolve around your prick/Just ask your old girlfriends” is a brilliant put down even if he is singing about himself. In fact you could go as far to say that the whole of 'The Game of Monogamy' could be encapsulated with that one sound bite. This is the record where Tim puts a full stop on his life, temporarily at least and reflect on what type of man he has become. The honesty in his words are utterly refreshing in the world of today’s ego fuelled, chest beating anthemic indie rockers. It’s just that I think the album would have been better suited as an old fashioned mini album rather than this overlong slightly bloated effort we have here today.
Track Listing:-
1 Monogamy Overture2 A Grown Man
3 I'm Afraid I'm Gonna Die Here
4 Strays
5 Cold Love
6 Surprise, Surprise
7 There Must Be Something I've Lost
8 Bad, Bad Dreams
9 No Fireworks
10 The Prodigal Husband
11 Monogamy
Label Links:-
http://www.affairsoftheheart.de/Have a Listen:-
most viewed articles
current edition
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - InterviewJack Frost - As Seen on TV
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
John McKay - Interview
Editorial - July 2025
Robert Forster - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Kruder and Dofmeister - Paral-lel 62, Barcelona, 27/4/2025
Skunk Anansie - Old Market, Brighton, 16/5/2025
Yardbirds - Des Plaines Theater, Des Plaines, 18/4/2025
most viewed reviews
current edition
John McKay - Sixes and #SevensDavey Woodward - Mumbo in the Jumbo
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
HAIM - I Quit
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a Circle
Pulp - More
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos
Little Simz - Lotus
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart