If you clicked on this from Facebook or Google, you know that I'm sick and just not up for much of anything right now.
This was supposed to be an innovative, different sounding band. Let me spoil it for you - they're not. And I don't think it's the cold talking here.
Kind of just getting right down to this one. First track up is "Empty House." The song is a very typical sound, if I'm being honest. Every line is left dangling on the air with no real final meaning. The music is okay, but nothing exciting or drawing. It makes for good background music though, and I'm sure certain lines would probably be appropriate for certain scenes in a teen show. This is like a less-fun Fall Out Boy appearance on "One Tree Hill."
The annoying thing for me during all of this so far (yes, in the few minutes we've been on this) is that this is very much like a band that I usually really like. "Tear It Up" just sounds like everything I've already heard. It's no wonder you need to get to the ears of people before everyone else. This is like just another Brooklyn indie band that gets all of their friends to come out to see them. At least here there's some sort of progression and umph to the chorus as it hits.
"California" at least gives some intriguing lines as we kick off. "I want you to go to California for yourself, but not for me." I mean, awesome, there's some reasoning behind singing the song. The music itself is calming, despite the fast-moving instrumentation. There's something about the way it layers over itself that mellows everything out quite a bit, giving a final sound of just serenity and acceptance. Kind of cool when the concept of a song seems to come through in every possible way.
"Home" has a sort of appropriate down sound. It's slow and seems to just take on this explanation role, instead of much else. This is the solemn moment in the show where we just get to connect with the artist about his writing. There's even instrumental breaks that leave us just sitting and contemplating our own hardships, all to the picking of an echoing guitar and some other slight whistling sound, keeping the mood.
I took a break before diving in to the second half of our trip on Delta Spirit (ha - see what I did there?) and came back a little more refreshed and willing for "Otherside." While the sound still falls way to easily into the background of my life, I did stop to hear the chorus - I mean, there's at least a pause leading in there. This builds just a tiny bit of anticipation towards really hearing something happening. Not too shabby.
"Tellin' The Mind" is probably the most upbeat song we have yet to experience here. There's some kind of... is that actually passion behind the music? I mean, it's a little on the old-school pink side of things, and the drums are certainly taking over. It's got so much more body to it though! There's excitement and energy, finally. We're up and dancing and really enjoying this one.
Oh, but we can't have a party going constantly. "Time Bomb" slows things way back down, and we're back to drifting on the breeze as it goes. It's not even a nice clean breeze through the meadow. This is a tougher one with polluted air through a city. I'd almost go so far as to say it's dragging us down to a walking pace as it goes. See what happens when I can't get a clear placement on lyrics? I start getting all story-teller and weird-like on y'all. Oi vey, come on, give me more to work with, please!
I think there's an attempt at some deeper meaning for "Into The Darkness." The classic line of "we're all just sheep... being herded" caught my ears as it went by. I'm almost positive this is some sort of political number or at least commentary on a generation. How could it not be with lines like this? Plus, if they're going to keep things as such a steady, unfeeling pace until so far in, then they should at least give us something more to grasp on to in some which, way, or another.
Are these guys kidding me? They're going to wait until track 10 of 11 to pick up the beat and show us they've got more than one song worth moving to? "Money Saves" has some of the more interesting uses of mixing that I've heard this entire time, complete with dynamics and rhythms. It's not great, but it's still about damn time.
I spoke too soon. "Yamaha" comes on with an organ sound to start the close out. It's a lullaby of sorts. I want there to be more, really I do. But it's dull and just a chance to maybe try some harmonies that we've really been hearing the whole time. I'm going to hold out and say this is probably better live. Please.
Added to My Playlist:
- "California"
- "Tellin' The Mind"