Over The Rhine nearly imploded as a band and as a married couple (Karin and Linford Detwweiler make up the two songwriters) after writing their epic, double disc Ohio two years before. Touring that record and making it nearly did in the marriage of music and spirits of the two long-time Over The Rhiners, so they cut that tour short (I never got to see it) and went home to just be married for a while. After a two year break they returned with this glorious, if downbeat, set of songs about the strength of love and how hard it is to be married, but how worth it it is. Records that celebrate married life are rare indeed. More often than not is the "break up" record where an artist pours themselves out after a relationship has ended badly. (For example, tune in for tomorrow's record by Ben Harper to hear a prime example of this.)
"I Want You To Be My Love" starts the record off as a sort of mission statement about marriage and "Born" celebrates the idea of a soul mate, someone who fits you like a glove. "Little Did I Know" and "Who Will Guard The Door" give a small glimpse into the troubles faced by any couple, but come through with a hopefulness that is hearting.
I have been married for twelve years now, and we're happier than ever. But that is not to say that we don't need to "guard the door" and be vigilant about the state of our union. Some people do more maintenance on their cars than on their marriages. Marriage is work, but it is worth doing. Life is more complicated than it was when we started, but we are better at it. That's a nice trade off.
I want to be married to my wonderful wife till my final day. To do that is to do the daily work of marriage. Treating that other person better than yourself, serving your family and plugging into something higher than yourself to give you both the strength to run the race.
Thank you Over The Rhine for showing me what true devotion is. Long may they live and write.
4 stars
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