The album explicitly alludes to past CocoRosie repertoire while eliminating the excess and lack of focus that created hiccups on earlier outings.
Tales of a GrassWidow may not be as overtly challenging as Grey Oceans, but it offers some of CocoRosie's most focused, accomplished songs yet.
Once you get stuck in, their experimental bravery and two-fingers-up confidence begs a second, third, fourth listen, during which what is admirable and individual about the band is allowed to come to the fore.
Tales Of A GrassWidow won’t alter opinions; if anything it’ll cement them. But for those who enjoy CocoRosie, album number five is every bit as intriguing and fulfilling as they’d hope.
There is much to be charmed by here, and many layers to be uncovered through repeated listens. However, a few standout tracks make everything else look a little pale by comparison.
On Tales Of A GrassWidow, the almost unbelievable set of circumstances and experiences that have shaped CocoRosie’s lives and musical styles to date are as influential as they have always been - eccentric, diverse, challenging and beautiful.
It's all remarkably pleasant for a CocoRosie album-- you leave it not with the feeling of having weathered an intriguing, baffling ordeal, but of having listened to something recognizable as an album.
In the main Tales of a GrassWidow is an invigorating listen, a patchwork of shifting moods and genres
Their auto-tuned Björk caricatures are not only an insult to Björk—but also to auto-tune and the human voice in general.
CocoRosie certainly revel in their unorthodoxy but this doesn’t always make for enjoyable listening; perhaps if their 'Tales Of A Grasswidow' knew how to breathe, their macabre hymns might pack a little more pluck.
While not something one would ever want to listen to again, Tales of a Grass Widow is progress for the Casady sisters.
The two girls keep playing with their instruments as they're their dolls.
OK, that's not necessarily a disadvantage but it's not also an advantage.