The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 284

It's finally happening - 5 very late reviews!








If These Trees Could Talk: If These Trees Could Talk

I was pretty amused to see that this is yet another Ohio band that has been either recommended to me or by me in CMCS. What a cool coincidence! This is a post rock instrumental band, and I am a pretty big fan of this particular musical style!

As expected, the instrumentation was fantastic! From a few unexpected sound effects to the awesome guitars and the stellar drums, I loved every minute of this! What I enjoy most about this genre is the dynamic range coupled with the intricacies in the music. It's just something else. You can really get lost in it, and each listen lets you hear new things you didn't notice previously.

No lyrics or vocals to discuss, of course, but the melodies (musically) were really great. Sometimes instrumental tracks can blend together, but a great melody can help me keep them apart in my mind. That was definitely the case here.

No critiques here!

The album opens with the sounds of a roller coaster, believe it or not! That was pretty cool and really brought me back to my youth. The song, "Malabar Front," picks up musically with some slower, quieter guitar parts along with some drums. With it being the longest track on the album by almost two minutes, it has a lot of dynamic range. Soon the drums pick up the pace a bit and the track also gets a bit louder at the same time. I just love the guitars in this track! I was sold on this album by about the 2-minute mark on this track - that's how much I enjoyed it! The song continues to build dynamically and the music also becomes more intricate. After a short while, it backs off again, only to later build back up. This happened a few times. The drums were a real highlight for me the second time the track quieted down a bit. Just an overall fantastic track. "Smoke Stacks" is next, and it's a pretty chill track at the beginning. The percussion once again gets to shine with some intricate rhythms that I really enjoyed. About a minute into the track, the guitars and drums both took off and the track built dynamically, only to quiet back down about 30 seconds later. I really enjoyed the quieter part to this track - I found it really interesting. There were some really cool "staccato" guitar parts, alternating with some louder parts - that was my favorite part. At the end of the track, the sound effects return with the sounds of a train. "The Friscalating Dusklight" follows, and takes right off with some really lovely guitar parts that produced a rather chill melody. Something about this track really reminds me of a song that I've heard before, but I just can't place it right now. Also, some of the guitar and drum parts reminded me of The Graduate (man, I miss that band!), which is always a good thing! "Signal Tree" picks up right where the previous track left off (the transition was seamless) and really showcased the awesome drumming. I would be shocked if the drummer didn't have at least some kind of formal training, because I can hear it in certain places. Just really stellar work - so impressive. Toward the end of the track, there's a bit of a lull, and the guitars come back in (along with the drums) for short pockets of time. It's just really cool - I repeated this track a lot. Next up is "The Death of Paradigm," which starts out pretty slowly and quietly. It picks up with a clear musical melody that develops into a big, full instrumental passage that has many layers. Toward the end of the track, we're left with a lonely guitar playing a similar melody, and then the track closes out with some sound effects again (traffic? the train again?). The final track is named after the longitude and latitude coordinates of the band's hometown - Akron, Ohio (I really enjoy little touches like that!). I wonder if it's a coincidence that the track is 3:30 long, since 330 is the Akron area code... Anyway - back to the song! I think this may be my favorite track of the bunch. It just seems to sum up the best parts of this whole album for me. It has some driving guitars and intricate percussion, along with a broad dynamic range. A few of the guitar parts reminded me of Jimmy Eat World, which was pretty cool and unexpected! The album closes with the same sound effects that ended the previous track.

Verdict: 10/10

Favorite tracks: all of them!

Reminds me of: Tides of Man (recently), "Shy, Low," Circadian Eyes, The Graduate, Lights & Motion, and Vasudeva


(Thanks for sharing a wonderful album, @Larry David! I'm so stoked to know about this band now!)











Cecil Frena: The Gridlock

Before going into this album, I only really knew that it showcased a lot of musical styles - this is very accurate! I enjoyed the variety a lot.

The instrumentation was lovely - I quite enjoyed the use of strings (it's always an appreciated addition to music for me). The guitar and piano parts were excellent as well, along with the drums.

I haven't really had a chance to really pick up the lyrics yet (though they seem to be pretty full of anguish from what I have picked up), but the vocals and melodies were really great. His vocals really remind me of the vocalist for "A Silent Film." (Considering that they are one of my favorite bands, this is a big deal!)

No major critiques here! The sequencing of the album left me a bit off-balance, but I think that was intentional.

"Nerves Grow Rust" opens the album with some distortion and some strings, of all things! The strings (and distortion) were a common thread throughout the track, and the string parts were lovely. "All of My Heroes" has a lot more guitar work to it, along with some cool drums. There are a lot of layers here, musically. Following the chorus, there's a quiet part that shows dynamic range. Something about this track makes me think of 90s rock, which is always a good thing! "Unknow Yourself" starts out with some pretty wild guitars and drums. It's a bit manic in a way, with quite a bit of tension. I'm reminded of some older AFI for some reason. "I Want to Guard You from Boredom" is a real shock after the previous track. It starts out very slowly and quietly, with a lovely piano melody. A bit later on, there's a return of distortion, but it's still a rather chill track compared to the previous one - I really enjoy it a lot! "Inertia" has a really cool guitar/drum part with some nice syncopation. Some of the lyrics are rapped, which is different. There are a few strings here and there, which I enjoyed. "My Good Grades" has almost a swing feel to it in places. There's more strings and a really cool melody. There's even some brass! "The World Is Ours" is a lovely instrumental track, featuring some really intricate piano with a bit of strings. Short and sweet, but I wouldn't mind a whole album like this. "Die Old" has a really cool beat and melody. I enjoyed the layers to the music here a lot. Toward the end of the track, there's a bit of screaming, but it's not too off-putting. "I Believe in Dancing" starts out to be acoustically-driven (almost a folk track, but it has hints of what I can only describe as Carribean music, too), and it reminds me of George Michael's "Faith" (and thus it reminds me of Matt Nathanson's "Faster"). I think there might be...bagpipes? Very interesting, but in a good way. "Hyphen" brings the piano back from earlier (it's really gorgeous). It later gives way to some distorted guitars and really lovely strings. This song also features what I'll fondly call "UFO sounds." The percussion on this track is especially impressive. "You Are My Compass" has some vocoder vocals, along with some really cool percussion. I also quite enjoy the melody of this track. I think I hear a flute on this one, by the way! "Human Math" closes the album out with a rather subdued and quiet track that later (and suddenly) builds. Later on the quiet, subdued mood returns (wait - are those cats? lol!), only to give way to the huge sound of the previous chorus. The song quiets down again toward the end, and later the distortion returns for the official close of the album.

Verdict: 9.5/10

Favorite tracks: All of My Heroes, I Want to Guard You from Boredom, My Good Grades, The World Is Ours, Die Old, I Believe in Dancing, Hyphen, You Are My Compass (yes, more than half the album)

Reminds me of: a musical grab-bag that contains bagpipes, a UFO, and cats; A Silent Film; Matt Nathanson


(Thanks for sharing another great listen, @Larry David!)
















Julien Baker: Turn Out The Lights

I'd seen this album mentioned a few times on the forum, so I was aware of it. I'm rather picky when it comes to female vocals, which is probably why I hadn't tried it out until now. I'm quite happy to report that not only did I enjoy the vocals, but I loved the album as a whole!

The instrumentation was gorgeous! The strings, the piano, the guitar - everything combined to make a fantastic muiscal experience.

As usual, I haven't really had a chance to pick up all the lyrics yet, but I think that's a huge part of this album, so I intend to do that during future listens over the coming weeks. (To be honest, I might not be in the right headspace for it yet, but I do intend to get into these when I can.) The vocals and melodies were really amazing and are what will keep me going back to the album until I get a better feel for the lyrics.

No critiques here!

"Over" opens the album with a lovely instrumental piano track. "Appointments" continues with a similar melody as at the end of "Over," but without as much piano this time around (until later in the track). The lyrics (though I haven't gone through these in detail) are really heartbreaking, and the vocal delivery really adds to that. Next up is the title track, which continues with a similar mood from "Appointments." It's at this point of the album that I'm really reminded of Ingrid Michaelson, whose voice (and music) I also really enjoy. "Shadowboxing" has such gorgeous piano and strings! I did pick up these lyrics pretty quickly, and they are heartbreaking and relatable for sure. "Sour Breath" utilized quite a catchy melody to deliver some equally painful lyrics. I'm starting to detect a theme, here! "Televangelist" may be my favorite track, because the piano is just stellar! Also, these lyrics hit pretty hard, as well. "Everything to Help You Sleep" has another really gorgeous piano part. Toward the end of the track, there's a really beautiful string part. "Happy to Be Here" starts with a simple, yet effective, guitar part. The lyrics are quite unique and interesting. "Hurt Less" has another fantastic piano part and truly heartwrenching lyrics. A lovely string part joins in with the piano part for the second verse (along with some guest vocals). These might be the hardest lyrics for me to hear on the album, but I can't deny that the whole song is beautiful. "Even" opens with a guitar part underlying some additional reflective lyrics. There's quite a bit of anguish to these lyrics. "Claws in Your Back" closes out the album with another stunning piano part and more powerful lyrics. Some strings join the piano about halfway through the track, making the delivery of the lyrics even more poignant.

Verdict: 10/10

Favorite tracks: all of them!

Reminds me of: Ingrid Michaelson

(Thanks for encouraging me to check out such a beautiful album, @Larry David!)














Abandoned Pools: Armed to the Teeth

Before going into this album, I saw that Spotify considers Copeland, Mae, Minus the Bear, Lovedrug, and Acceptance to be related artists. That's a surefire way to get me interested! I also have been learning that @Patterns in Traffic and I have pretty similar tastes, so I was pretty excited to try this out.

I loved the instrumentation - the guitars were especially great, but so were the drums and the piano (when it was used). There were some pretty cool production effects used, as well. The strings (used here and there) were a great added touch that I always appreciate.

As usual, I haven't picked up the lyrics yet, but both the vocals and melodies were fantastic. I'll have to let the lyrics sink in over the next several listens.

No critiques here!

"Lethal Killers" opens the album with a mid-tempo, yet pretty energetic track, which gave me immediate Mae and (older) Copeland vibes. The guitars are really awesome. "Rabble" had an interesting loop playing in the background for a good part of the song - a really cool sound and rhythm. A few of the moments in this track made me think of Minus the Bear, too. "The Catalyst" was really catchy! The vocalist's falsetto makes me think of Aaron Marsh's falsetto in places (probably more like Wes Blaylock's from Deas Vail). In fact, this whole track makes me think of Deas Vail. Too awesome! "Tighter Noose" showcases a return of the vocalist's falsetto. It's a slower track for the most part, and there is some pretty cool percussion work on it. The instrumental bridge made me really think of both Mae and Copeland - some surprising (and really nice) strings, too! "Waiting to Panic" starts out with some distortion which gives way to a nice rock track. I'm reminded of some of my favorite moments in Copeland's "In Motion" while listening to this song. I really liked the beat to this one - it's very catchy! As one of the shorter tracks on the album, I wish it had gone on a bit longer. "Hunting" starts out (rather unexpectedly) with some pretty piano. In places, it made me think of Jack's Mannequin (certain lines sounded like Andrew's vocals a bit). Once they picked up the pace, the song became a lot catchier, but I love the whole thing - this may be my top favorite. After some interesting effects to close out the track, the title track begins. It features some really good drum and guitar work and is among the fastest songs on the album (tempo-wise). It's peppy and catchy, with some really awesome solos, so of course I love it. "Sooner or Later" opens with more falsetto layered on top of some guitar (and later, drum) work. Once the drums kick in, I'm 100% sold on it. Man, is this song catchy! I get a lot of Deas Vail vibes from this track, also. "Sailing Seas" starts out with an infectious rock beat. The whole track makes me think of Mae for some reason, which means I really enjoyed it, too! The drums were fantastic, especially during the bridge. The drums give way to a stellar guitar solo to finish out the bridge before the main beat returns. "Renegade" begins with some (unexpected) strings - I believe a cello and some violins, if I'm hearing correctly. Such a cool sound - there's a bit of a Middle Eastern sound here and there, too, which I really enjoy in rock/pop music. This song is such a standout - the guitars are excellent! "Maybe Then Someday" also opens with some strings and...piano! The drums join in shortly before the vocals. This is yet another really catchy track. I have a feeling these lyrics (once I sort them out) will hit me pretty hard. The few lines I did hear already did quite a number on me: "If I rip you from my chest/Live my life like a scientist/Only logic will destroy me." No kidding! "Goodbye Song" closes out the album with a lovely combination of drums, strings, and guitars. The falsetto in the chorus is so perfect. The bridge (as on most tracks on this album) is amazing, too. A fitting end to an awesome album.

Verdict: 10/10

Favorite tracks: all of them!

Reminds me of: Copeland, Deas Vail, Mae, Jack's Mannequin, Minus the Bear


(Thanks for this awesome listen, @Patterns in Traffic! I look forward to trying out their other album(s).)














Fountains Of Wayne: Utopia Parkway

I'll confess that I've only heard "Stacy's Mom" prior to trying out this album. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, aside from some catchy pop/rock tracks.

The instrumentation was quite enjoyable - both the guitars and drums were great! There was even a bit of piano!

As usual, I haven't picked up the lyrics yet, but the vocals and melodies were really great. (I did pick up some puns and humor in the lyrics, which was enjoyable.) His vocals and some of the melodies and harmonies really remind me of the vocalist for "Avion" (Steve Bertrand). Also, this band does not take itself too seriously, that's for sure!

No major critiques here! I'm not sure how often I'll return to this album, though, since I'd need to be in a certain mood for it.

The title track opens the album - it takes right off with a midtempo, catchy song. I'm reminded of Avion right away here, for some reason. It's a straightforward song, but good. "Red Dragon Tattoo" reminds me of The Wallflowers for some odd reason! I like this track - it's peppy and catchy. "That guy from Korn" - lol! "Denise" has a bit of a grunge feel to it, with some humorous lyrics. It's enjoyable, too. "Hat and Feet" makes me think about They Might Be Giants. It's a pretty chill song with some cool guitars. "The Valley of Malls" makes me think of Fastball, so I'm getting a 90s/00s radio vibe from it. It has a cool guitar solo! "Troubled Times" is more of an acoustic track, but it's still really catchy. "Go, Hippie" is another grunge track, with some really awesome guitars. "A Fine Day for a Parade" reminds me of The Beatles for some reason, which was unexpected! It's a cool track. "Amity Gardens" has some pretty awesome drums and guitars. "Laser Show" is an amusing track with a rock feel to it. A pretty cool guitar solo, too! "Lost in Space" is a rather fast and upbeat track. I really liked the drums! "Prom Theme" sounds like a ballad, but (as expected), the lyrics are meant to be amusing. "It Must Be Summer" is a bit jarring after the previous track - it's an upbeat rock track. It's pretty catchy and I enjoy the drums, though! "The Senator's Daughter" makes me think about "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys. It's pretty calming and a nice chill way to end the album.

Verdict: 9/10

Favorite tracks: Red Dragon Tattoo, Denise, Troubled Times, "Go, Hippie," A Fine Day for a Parade, Laser Show, Lost in Space, Prom Theme (yes, more than half the album)

Reminds me of: Avion, They Might Be Giants, The Beatles, The Wallflowers, late 90s/early 00s radio


(Thanks for sharing a great listen, @JRGComedy!)

 

A fellow Darren Hayes fan! I feel like I just saw a yeti or something! Hey there!

I'm partial to "The Tension and the Spark," but yes, SC&BS comes pretty close to "Delicate" for me. I think the concept (I guess the nautical theme is really strong in SC&BS, but I wouldn't call it a concept album) is what helps "Delicate" win that particular battle.

 

Is this another stalker like @anonimito was! Not quite ready to take the plunge but likes all the reviews? Haha!

 

Some of us prefer "lurker," but perhaps!

The more the merrier!

 

Honestly, I haven't seen anyone mention Darren Hayes nor Savage Garden on this site (outside of the Tonight Alive cover article posted the other day). It is a site to behold!

'The Tension and the Spark' to me is his most inconsistent album, there are tracks I really like on there ('Darkness', 'Unlovable' and 'Sense of Humour') but for the most part it doesn't really resonate with me. It feels like transitional album (with a lot of growing pains) from his contemporary radio pop approach of 'Spin' and Savage Garden material to the more electronic and "experimental" songwriting of 'Delicate' and the 'We Are Smug' album.

 

That is really funny! I just sent @anonimito that video of Tonight Alive covering Savage Garden.

 

Have followed the thread sporadically pretty much since it started, but I am rarely on the site as a poster.

 

Indeed!

I can see that - I suppose it helps that it was my first album of his and it came at a perfect time in my life (the album being about a struggle through depression). So I guess having it *really* resonate is what made the difference. Now, I can't imagine him releasing another album that will take first place for me, but I'd sure love to hear anything new from him at all.

 

Looks like you all your recent recs were winners, @anonimito! So glad you liked Abandoned Pools. Agree with the Copeland/Mae/Deas Vail comparison. All four AP albums are great, but I would recommend the debut Humanistic as the next one to check out!

 

Awesome! I'll have to check that out!

I wish Deas Vail would release something new soon - it's been ages, hasn't it?

 

It has! I think they are no more, unfortunately. Wesley Blaylock released a solo EP a few years ago that's really good if you haven't heard it. I've been wondering if he'll release more solo material.

Also saw you mention Avion in another review. Haven't heard them mentioned for a long time!

 

I've read somewhere that Hayes himself is still pretty pleased with that album because of how of he expresses his battles with depression and such and I have nothing but respect for him for doing so, especially coming off of the back of 'Spin' which in many ways felt to me as if he was under the pressure proving that he could make it outside of Savage Garden. Agreed and it's a shame he has essentially quit music but if it's for the sake of his mental health then at the end of the day, it's completely justified.

 

Oh, that's a shame! I have heard his solo EP, and I quite liked it! I hope he/they release new music sometime.

Haha - yep! Blast from the past. I love that album. I mean, it's a "safe" rock album, but some of those riffs are amazing. And I quite enjoy Steve's voice. Too cool that you know of that album!

 

Yes, I totally agree about "Spin." The...for lack of a better word, "scat singing" that happens on almost every track distracts me with "Spin," but I do love those songs. His lyrics and melodies are always fantastic, even buried under a lot of other things.

I agree - I think he'll come back to music some day, but the acting/comedy/podcasting seem to be his joy right now, which is great. I'm happy he has an outlet he enjoys.

 

All the vocalising on it is very obvious at times, I complete agree! I feel like in many ways that album is precursor to what Justin Timberlake was doing on his debut. The stretch from 'Good Enough' - 'What You Like' is classic Hayes (maybe even include 'Crush' at the start of the stretch)

I could also see that happening, you can certainly sense that he is still very passionate about music from his social media presence. Exactly, and it's great that he is focusing on other forms of expression that he is passionate about too.

 

That sounds like a good comparison. And yes - though I wouldn't leave out the title track, just because I find it to be fun. "Spin" is his debut solo album's "Bombs Up in My Face." lol I also really like "Creepin' Up on You" (no, not because I'm a stalker :P) but because it's fun. But for sincere lyrics - oh yeah, "Good Enough" through "What You Like" is perfect. Stellar songwriting.

 

You can hear the Madonna influence on the chorus of 'Spin', and I can definitely see the parallels between the two tracks! 'Creepin' is a very questionable song from a lyrical perspective Darren finds a tongue and cheek balance on it but the string arrangement is one of my favourite parts of the album. I could imagine that stretch appearing on the 3rd Savage Garden album if they hadn't split, very much a progression of the less top 40 side of Affirmation (the last 4 songs most notably).

 

100%. Those strings are what finally helped me realize I love strings in modern music. It took years for me to figure that out! And yes, the "third SG album" concept makes complete sense. I never thought about it that way, but that really sounds right.

("Mine" is my favorite SG track, though I'll always have a soft spot for "Carry on Dancing." I figured I'd mention that just because this conversation probably couldn't happen with anyone else on here, lol.)

 

Strings are so underappreciated in pop music that isn't ballads, it's one of the main reasons I really adore 'Secret Codes & Batteships' because all of the string arrangements, album version of 'Talk Talk Talk' with the strings either before or after the song (It's been a while since I've spun any Darren Hayes album excluding the 1st Savage Garden album)

Funnily enough I had never heard 'Mine' until a couple of months ago when I was listening to 'Savage Garden' in full on Youtube while doing housework and it included the bonus tracks. I was completely floored, you can hear The Cure influence all over the instrumentation. Outside of 'Secret Codes...' I've never really explored any Darren related B-sides or bonus tracks. It's very difficult to choose a favourite Savage Garden song as it changes depending on my mood, but 'Promises' and 'Two Beds and a Coffee Machine' are my go to songs. 'San Monica' has become recent favourite too.

 

Oh yes - my thoughts exactly! I love that "Talk Talk Talk" was a single because of those strings being "on the radio" for a bit.

Oh wow, cool! That must have been a fun surprise! I think we need to take this to Direct Message (sorry @Bad Frequencies!), but I can help you find some b-sides. His b-sides are all stellar and some of them are among my very favorite songs ever. Those are all awesome SG tracks!

 

Also you should join us, @Night_Sky !

 

@Nate_Johnson and myself are working on it

 

I am very excited to introduce our newest member @Night_Sky to The Chorus Music Club! He and I will be trading this week and I'm really excited to check out the recommendations.

He will be listening to:
Casey: Where I Go When I Am Sleeping
Limbs: Father's Son

I will be listening to:
Respire: Denouncement
Night Flowers: Wild Notion

 

Woah I am really liking this respire record. You gave great recs too, Nate

 

It’s very good. I’m halfway through and it’s going to settle into my top 10 very nicely. Loving the additional instruments on it.