I don't know whether to offer kudos or curses to Over the Rhine. No group has the right to put out albums so absolutely dominating. What's a self-respecting reviewer to do? Swallow his pride I suppose, and embarrassingly gush over such works of art.

If I could have only one album--a "Top One Desert Island Classic," Till We Have Faces would be it, without a moment's doubt. And it's been that way since my first few listens. In the past year, I've been through several month-long periods where Over the Rhine took possession of my CD player and car tape player and wouldn't let go, the selfish knaves.

In a nutshell, I simply find no album so completely sensual, touching every part of my existence. Combine its pure poetry, its spiritual joy and torment, and its romantic ideals and realism with its many colors, its surrealistic music, its restrained passion, and a captivating voice with more texture than corduroy and burlap, and what you have is pure magic.

It pains me to no end to not be able to just quote line after amazing line, but alas I can't. Bassist Linford Detweiler's lyrics and Karin Bergquist's emotive voice breathe real life, beauty, and passion into this project. Karin's lead vocals are simply exquisite, rich and emotionally seductive.

Criticisms can be made. I do think the band needs to work with a producer, and I hope they continue to grow and change. But I wouldn't want to risk going back and messing with these works. This is truly a case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.