Album Review: The Guggenheim Grotto "The Universe is Laughing"

By ND McCray, Music Editor

Irish alternative-folk duo The Guggenheim Grotto (Kevin May and Mick Lynch) delivers their third album The Universe Is Laughing –an ode to love, lust, lost and many other L-words. But according to the guys it’s about “marching, chopping wood, highways, girls wearing pretty dresses, sinking churches, ghost towns, chasing answers, getting drunk…tiny white lies, the sun, the moon and the whole damn universe”.

In spite of all of that, The Universe Is Laughing is a fairly deep yet sentimental project, especially “Map of the Human Heart” and “Ruby Heart”. The catchy “Wisdom” will appeal to radio fans; while the album’s title track will definitely become a crowd favorite. Anyway, what got me to listen to the album was the title (I’m a huge proponent of the Universe’s actions), but also their hit single “Told You So” from 2006’s Waltzing Alone and “Fee Da Da Dee” from 2008’s Happy the Man. Despite mainstream success, the duo still maintains their indie-pop-folk appeal.


The Universe is Laughing

The Guggenheim Grotto gained popularity in their native Ireland before signing to indie-label United For Opportunity, from which their songs were licensed to popular network TV shows such as One Tree Hill.

For more information on The Guggenheim Grotto, check out their website as well as their myspace page!