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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Full of ideas but ultimately leaving something to be desired..., July 21, 2007
I remember the day I bought this album, shortly after it came out. I asked the guy at the counter what he thought of it. I knew it was from Casey Crescenzo, formerly of TREOS, and according to the random guy at the counter, it was great. So I followed his advice and Casey's reputation from TREOS, and figured this could be a great new venture like TREOS turned out to be when I first bought their album on a whim.
Let me say, this album left a lot to be desired. I can't say I was expecting the Receiving End of Sirens; I knew it was going to be something totally different, and it definitely is. Unconventional instrumental arrangements and melodic changes make this a unique venture. There are multiple influences, but every time I listen to this album, I feel like he was so anxious to combine his influences to create something great and instead finished it as an unfocused jumble of inconsistency with some flashes of brilliance.
The album starts off on a good note, and builds up to something that sounds like it can be great, from the dark undertone of the "Battesimo del Fuoco" to the beautiful arrangement of "The Lake South." Then out of nowhere, "City Escape" explodes and you hear something totally new and exciting, albeit while sacrificing what could have been a more chilling extended introduction rather than rushing into it.
Although "City Escape" has something unique going for it, it is spaced out much longer than it should be, and the moment halfway through the song where it almost seems the band goes to sleep for a minute destroys all the momentum the song had going for it. When it finally returns, you've lost interest and wonder why the song is first rushed and then suddenly spaced out for no apparent reason. It just doesn't feel right, and this inconsistency is one of the main things that plague this album.
"The Inquiry of Ms. Terri" is a little bit better in that aspect, but the song just lacks a dynamic chorus and feels as if it settles for something less than what it could have been. The instrumentation is interesting, but evokes little emotion from the listener.
"1878" has so much going for it, but what starts out as a beautifully textured song turns rigid when the chorus is plagued by an annoying high hat and strained vocals. The bridge of the song is stronger, displaying Casey's expanded musical prowess, and it actually helps the flow of the song into the chorus again.
"The Pimp and the Priest" is an interesting song because even though I didn't fall in love with the circus-like melody at first, I think because it allows itself to be restrained it succeeds by the end. The song feels subdued, as it should, and doesn't try to force an unnecessary overkill of sound.
"His Hands Matched His Tongue," has a great arrangement to it and ultimately succeeds. It's more melancholy and heartfelt, and for once on the album, feels right at home in where the track is placed. "The River North" is a nice conclusion and helps complete a solid second half.
I do enjoy this album, but I am not going to rate it like most other Amazon users do. It seems if people think an album is good, they give it five stars. Shouldn't an album that is simply good only be awarded three stars while four and five stars are saved for the albums that are great and extraordinary? I can see some awarding this album four stars, but this is not a five star album. I'm giving it three stars because I feel the ambition is there, the creativity is there, but the overall execution is lacking and sometimes bordering on pretension. There are a lot of positive aspects to this album, and Casey Crescenzo has created somewhat of a unique sound, yet it still pales in comparison to his contributions to TREOS and leaves the listener feeling a little empty and out of touch with the music. Casey's sound is only being developed here; it has yet to be fully realized and hopefully he will understand where this album succeeded and build on that in the future.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love Concept Albums..., October 23, 2006
"The Dear Hunter" is an exceptional piece of work that you should go out and purchase. If you like concept albums, you'll love this CD. It's like taking the TREOS album "Between the Heart and the Synapse" and taking it to a whole new level where there are no boundaries.
This is the second album I've heard of them...I like how it has progressed from "Dear Miss Leading"...but I still love that album just as much. This is more "rock-oriented" and a little bit less electronic. Definitly a step up as far as live goes.
If you love harmonies, layering, and clever/catchy guitar lines...pick this album up. If you like music...pick this up!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Purchase, January 21, 2010
Initially I came across the Dear Hunter by mistake in one of those Amazon "if you like this, than maybe you'd like these" type pages. I saw the Dear Hunter and I checked out some samples from both Act I: the Lake South, the River North, and Act III: Life and Death. My immediate reaction was "this is a really interesting diverse display of musicianship, as well, it's catchy and enjoyable."
The album itself far surpassed the samples on Amazon, and I found myself immersed in this conceptual story while enjoying a wide variety of genres of music. The Dear Hunter as a band do well at combining 40's, 50's, 60's, classical, contemporary, rock, and even bluesy cruise type music that you would expect to hear on a tropical getaway. They are immensely talented and the singer doesn't annoy you with experimental styles. As well, a lot of the songs flow together and give you a semblance of something more than a cumulation of random sounds on a cd.
My favorite song is probably City Escape, but I also love the track previous that flows into it, which is called The Lake South.
Well worth your time if you are into anything other than straight radio mainstream and enjoy some personality in your music.
-cary-
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~ The Dear Hunter
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is The Dear Hunter's 1st studio release. Browse The Dear Hunter's Discography 
