Customer Reviews

Almost Here

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like many people, I bought this CD because the lead singer, Andy Yorke, is Thom's brother. Let's face it, there are not many Unbelievable Truth fans who were not previously Radiohead fans. Still, unfair comparisons aside, Almost Here is a gorgeous album. I thought I was taking a bit of a risk buying it, but I was pleasantly surprised. "Pleasantly surprised" is quite an understatement, actually.

It's not really much like Radiohead. When Andy holds a note for a few seconds you can hear the relationship to you-know-who, but the music itself is really quite different. More folksy, more oriented towards love songs, a different sort of poetry. It reminds me more of the very early Matthew Good Band, or Coldplay, perhaps--only much sadder, more haunting. Coldplay is nice enough, but somewhat forgettable. Almost Here is far more powerful. At times it sends chills down your spine. After it's finished you don't want to put anything else on because it would break the spell.

The first few songs are excellent. When listening to the album for the first time I was afraid they might have put their best songs first, as so many bands do, leaving the last half of the album comparatively bland and disappointing. But here's another pleasant surprise. It actually gets better. The last few songs are some of my favorites. Particularly "Building". Truly, Radiohead or no Radiohead, music doesn't get much better than that.

It may be the fact that Andy is Thom's little brother that influences you to buy this album. But the fact that Andy is Thom's little brother is NOT what will compel you to play the album over and over again. As, no doubt, you will. Enjoy.

About all that you have heard regarding this band and the comparisons to RADIOHEAD. They do not exist! Everyone seems to think that this band would not have made it (if you consider what they have done "making it") if the singer was not the brother of the lead singer of RADIOHEAD.

Well, simply put, this is a stupid way to view things. Aside from gene pool similarities, there are none. This band stands upon it's own merits. The song writing is stellar! The vocals are soothing and chilling and peaceful. The lyrics have a depth that is missing in 98% of todays so called music.

Forget trying to compare them to other bands. The whole..."if you like so and so, you will like this band" is stupid. Buy this record regardless of who or what you like. Throw all expectations out the window and buy this record! It matters NOT if you like Neil Diamond, or, Coldplay, or the Verve, or Zeppelin, or Earth Wind and Fire............. this band has something in every song for every song lover.

Well worth the time and effort to find this band.

Steven.......age 32/ Hockey #21

It's nice to finally hear a male voice do the "sensitive, vulnerable thing." It's good thinking music, good quiet music, good fill-you-up music. If you like Sarah MacLaughlan and Natalie Merchant, this is your male alternative. The songs are deep, the lyrics are gripping, and the talent is overflowing. This music is like an understanding friend, a shoulder to lean on. You walk away from listening to this feeling full and a bit wiser. It's good time and money spent.

This rates in my top ten albums of all time. No other album has touched my soul like this one. I was living and working in London the year this was released (1998) and I read a review somewhere that described it as "Crowded House for Intellectuals". Nothing could be more accurate. This is an album that will make you celebrate everything in life the one day and philosophise and wallow the next. It hits a raw nerve every time - no matter how many times you have heard it before. I went on to buy all the singles from this album and every time I was pleasantly surprised - they have b-sides that are absolutely stunning. What a pity they went their separate ways after the second album, but I can say that they have sure left their mark in my heart and my mind.

Unbelievable Truth's lead singer Andy Yorke, might be Thom's little brother, but this doesn't mean they're a Radiohead rip-off. Absolutely not. In fact, Unbelievable Truth's music is much more mellow than Radiohead's. Almost Here, their debut, consists of very sweet easy-tuned songs (not meant for people who only listen to hard rock / metal). Great tracks such as 'Solved', 'Forget About Me', 'Building', 'Settle Down' and 'Stone' prove this band is not a one-day-fly. Well, maybe they are, since the band split in 2000... but that doesn't mean they will be forgotten. Of all three Unbelievable Truth albums, this is their best. The other two albums (Sorrythankyou and Misc.Music) are beautiful too, but miss that typical Almost Here-'vibe'.

If you're into Coldplay, you'll love this band.
If you're into Radiohead, you might love this band.
If you're into good music, this is your band!

So many times albums slip through the crease and are not recognized for the original and creative talent that it shares with the listeners. I am a huge radiohead fan and that is what originally invited me to give "Almost Here" a shot. Andy Yorke and his band also touch your emotions when you listen to it(different emotions than radiohead). Andy has a great voice and uses it to capture his audience in a daze. I was pleasantly surprised and have been enjoying the album everyday since I bought it. I had to have it special ordered because of its scarcity in America but it was worth the effort. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys beautiful music that touch your emotions. Such music is hard to come by these days.

I bought this album a month ago because I'd seen the video for Higher Than Reason on a free video I'd gotten, and I fell in love with the song. Radiohead is also one of my favorite bands, so I thought, "why not?". The album doesn't sound much like Radiohead and it took me a few listens to get into the songs. It's very slow, subtle, and beautiful. Some of the songs are a little too slow for my taste but it's great overall. for anyone who likes this album, the Settle Down and Solved singles would be an excellent buy (I like the songs on them almost better than those on Almost Here).

An beautiful arrangement of sweet melancholy songs. I first heard "Higher Than Reason" on the CMJ certain damage CD, and I fell in love with it. I got this CD soon afterwards, and although at first the songs didn't make much of an impression, after listening to them a few times I fell in love with them too. Give the cd a chance, it takes a while to get used to. I guarantee you won't regret it.

I have to say that the first time I've ever heard of Unbelievable Truth was in a Radiohead web-site... I was downloading some RH audio files when I came up with this files... who were said to be from Thom Yorke's younger brother's band. When I opened the band's audio files I fell imediately in love with Andy Yorke's voice... a calm, sweet and melancholic voice. I liked it so much that I actually bought the album, which pleased me even more with "Forget about me" and "Angel"... they were all such strong songs... they really had soul. And now they've become one of my favourite bands and I'm looking forward to their next album, which I'm sure it will be even better than their first.

than Andy Yorke. Let's just get this out of the way, Radiohead is amazing. There are few bands as good as them. So don't go comparing Unbelievable Truth and Andy Yorke to Radiohead and dismissing them simply because they aren't as good. (To tell you the truth, Andy's voice is better. It's crisper, it's clearer and more touching) Some say, "well they sound a little like radiohead, so why can't we compare? Aren't they just a knock-off?" To this I say, yes they do sound similar in some aspects, but that's just because everyone in each of the two bands are from the same city and listened to a lot of the same music, thus having similar influences. Those similarities in influences are reflected in the likeness betwen the two bands. Anyway with or without big brother looming above, Unbelievable Truth is a good, solid band because they make great, heartfelt, folksy, pop songs.So buy this album if you like soaring vocals, good acoustic guitar, and you don't mind opening yourself up to the emotion which is conveyed by this artist. Cheers.