Shovels and Rope is a husband and wife duo that skirt the edge of a few musical styles. There’s a tinge of punk rock that weaves its way through the duo’s music and energy. Manticore in some ways evokes an image that’s a description of the work of the duo as a whole. The face of a man, body of a lion, and tail of a scorpion, each piece seemingly not to fit with the next, somehow making something recognizable that evokes an emotional response.
The duo’s soulful shine on the record is pushed against serious topics to make something that has depth and substance, as well as some sonic content, that make the album an interesting listen. It’s also worthwhile to dig into the lyrical content of the album hitting on both personal and social topics, including our fascinations with the cults of personality that permeate our lives in every medium, as well as family, love and strife.