True Margrit

San Francisco-based alternative rock pop piano band True Margrit combines an affinity for Shakespearean plays, along with influences such as Kate Bush, Aimee Mann and Ben Folds, into their three-piece band that brims with whimsy, lingering melodies and painfully honest revelations of past relationships gone bad.

The band is composed of singer/songwriter and pianist Margrit Eichler, bassist and background vocalist Gary Hobish and drummer Andrew Bacon.  The band released their first effort, “Deceptively True,” in 1999, then “Seaworthy” in 2005 before taking a hiatus to bring forth “The Juggler’s Progress” earlier this month, which features an array of special guest vocalists adding to the album’s layered sound.

Something that is palpable to listeners immediately upon listening to the disc is that the songs are composed of depressed sentiments and residual anger harbored toward individuals in the lyricists’ past.

The introductory track on the album, “Opposite Man,” integrates a multitude of instruments including piano, glockenspiel, guitar and more and highlights Eichler’s pliable voice. Rhyming vocals are prevalent and affirm that a ship has sailed in a relationship gone sour. “Everyone likes some viciousness/ delivered in doses with a kiss/ meeting you halfway on the fence/ is making me sick of your suspense.”

A vast majority of the songs filling “The Juggler’s Progress” are revealing situations of love lost, depression over being cheated on by a former lover, wanting to be controlled or dominated, a person who is unhappy with one’s physical self, and sexual frustration. In essence, the CD is filled with descriptions of a therapist’s dream client.

“Fly It Like a Flag” refers to the Shakespearean play “Hamlet,” and his soliloquy, now famous and often quoted in terms of melancholy and bruised passion. “No I’m not Prince Hamlet/ thought I’ve swallowed his speech/ and it plays in my ears and each to each,” affirms that the character in the song deals with struggles and decisions on how to live despite the universe not going according to plan.

The tenth track on the album, “Casseroles and Thunderstorms,” speaks to individuals who can’t seem to get themselves out of bed or the house. “The world ended at 3 a.m./ you got out of bed at 10/ in the living room the murmuring/ of family and friends” sheds light on a troubled individual who finds no comfort in breaking out of their comforting shell and would rather wallow in self-pity all the day long.

While the band shows obvious musical prowess and strength of vocals on the album, those qualities seem to be muted, if not stifled completely, by the disheartening lyrics filling the space. If anyone has ever wondered what it’s like to be a fly on the wall during a therapy session of someone with more than a handful of issues, True Margrit’s “The Juggler’s Progress” can deliver the experience fluidly via compact disc.

True Margrit plays Wednesday, Feb. 3 at the Cedarwood Dome in Milton at 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 6 at Fuel in Seattle at 8 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 11 at Bob’s Java Jive. For more information, visit the band’s website at http://www.truemargrit.com.

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