Cursive's 'Organ' needs no alibi

First of all, the ugly organ is the heart, so get your mind out of the gutter. Second, Cursive's new album is a rock-opera/concept album hybrid, the liner notes including staging directions for a production that probably won't ever take place.\nThat last bit shouldn't be surprising for those familiar with Cursive's 2000 album Domestica, a concept record about a couple's breakup. This one is more about what it's like to be in a burgeoning rock band. Art is hard, inspiration comes from anywhere, and they tell listeners this in no uncertain terms.\nPanic may well be the band's muse. Lead vocalist Tim Kasher's voice clashes with frantic music, and cellist Gretta Cohn creates sounds of harrowing loneliness. Sensitivity and conflict go hand in hand.\nCursive share the same hometown (Omaha, Neb.) and record label with Bright Eyes/Desaparecidos frontman Conor Oberst, also known for linking common thoughts in his records. Like Oberst's projects, appreciating it comes with the listener's willingness to appreciate ambitious, original artistry and striking thematic unity. Cursive has made the album for those beginning to fret about final exams. Get a good night's sleep, they say. You'll be fine.