Cursive’s 2003 album The Ugly Organ is reissued for the first time by Run For Cover. Marked by jagged arrangements and Tim Kasher’s theatrical delivery, the record quickly stood out for its self-aware reflections on art, relationships, and constraint.
The album’s structure was presented like a stage play in its original liner notes, highlighting its narrative intent. Reviews at the time praised both its concept and execution: The New York Times described it as “a marvelous collection of riddles and left turns, conceived as a single piece of musical theater,” while Rolling Stone called it “a brilliant leap forward.” Features in Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Alternative Press, MAGNET, Esquire, and SPIN reinforced its critical standing, and it appeared on numerous year-end lists.
Over two decades later, The Ugly Organ remains a defining moment in Cursive’s catalogue, bridging punk urgency with conceptual ambition and influencing a wave of bands that followed.
The album’s structure was presented like a stage play in its original liner notes, highlighting its narrative intent. Reviews at the time praised both its concept and execution: The New York Times described it as “a marvelous collection of riddles and left turns, conceived as a single piece of musical theater,” while Rolling Stone called it “a brilliant leap forward.” Features in Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Alternative Press, MAGNET, Esquire, and SPIN reinforced its critical standing, and it appeared on numerous year-end lists.
Over two decades later, The Ugly Organ remains a defining moment in Cursive’s catalogue, bridging punk urgency with conceptual ambition and influencing a wave of bands that followed.
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