A Cat Named Murzik

A Cat Named Murzik is the fourth studio album from the American folk band Murzik.

A Cat Named Murzik
Studio album by
Murzik
Released1 May 2012
StudioAladdin Studios
GenreDark folk
Length27:21
LabelSelf-released, Mint 400 Records
ProducerBryan Steenerson
Murzik chronology
Into the Darkness
(2009)		 A Cat Named Murzik
(2012)

About

The eight-track album was self-released, on 1 May 2012. It was recorded at Aladdin Studios, mixed by Alex Proctor, and engineered and produced by Bryan Steenerson. It is described as having "romanticized soundscapes and dark poetic lyrics," and it draws comparison to the music of DeVotchKa, Gogol Bordello, Nick Cave, and Leonard Cohen.[1][2] A Cat Named Murzik features accordion, mandolin, glockenspiels, and acoustic and electric guitars, with the baritone vocals.[3]

A record released party was held at Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 19 May 2012, with Bella Ruse.[4] The album was reissued with Mint 400 Records in 2015.

A review by John Ziegler in Duluth News Tribune says, "combining the zestiness of gypsy swing with the somber tones of some Eastern European folk music[,] there's a definite minor key vibe that comingles with the lyrics' darker shades lending a very distinct flavor to A Cat Named Murzik." He describes the opening track "Poison Tears" as blending "a flamenco feel with driving percussion and featur[ing] an undulating middle section, following the first verses, that almost stops time."[1]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Poison Tears"4:07
2."River of Love"4:22
3."Saint Andreas"1:59
4."Rain Falling Slowly"4:57
5."The Encounter"2:34
6."Lolita"3:12
7."Zdrastvuy Love"2:34
8."Heaven Will Stay"3:36
Total length:27:21

Personnel
  • Christopher Becknell – violin
  • Alex Budrow – drums
  • Ryan Pfeiffer – cello
  • Nathan Simar – accordion
  • Bryan Steenerson – vocals and guitar
  • Darin Steenerson – bass
Additional musicians
  • Jeremy Grace – piano
  • Alex Proctor – bass
gollark: I mean, one of the "wisdom of the ages"es of Western societies is to question past traditions and old ideas.
gollark: People complaining about it doesn't mean it's true either, I doubt they actually *measured* it.
gollark: They may also not have been very good ideas in the time when they "evolved", and just stuck around through luck or being tied to better ones.
gollark: Also, things being a good idea in very different societies of the past doesn't make them sensible in the different environments of today. They *might* be, but it isn't guaranteed.
gollark: Working memory isn't long-term memory.

References
Citations
  1. Ziegler 2012.
  2. Pirate! Staff 2013.
  3. SSG Music Staff 2012.
  4. Constant Contact Staff 2012.
Bibliography
  • Constant Contact Staff (2012), "New Music Spotlight", Constant Contact, retrieved 3 March 2019
  • Flores, Anna (2011), "The Live Feed Presents: Murzik", Public Radio Exchange, retrieved 3 March 2019
  • Pirate! Staff (2013), "Murzik - A Cat Named Murzik", Pirate!, retrieved 3 March 2019
  • SSG Music Staff (30 October 2012), "Murzik, James Apollo, Whitney Ballen at Columbia City Theater 11/1", SSG Music, retrieved 3 March 2019
  • Ziegler, John (5 April 2012), "CD review: Murzik combines diverse elements to produce singular sound", Duluth News Tribune, retrieved 3 March 2012
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