Customer Reviews

All Alone in An Empty House

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been listening to Lost In The Trees for a couple of years now and have seen them live countless times. When I heard that they were going to re-release their album, "All Alone In An Empty House" on their new label, Anti Records, I didn't know what to think. The original Trekky Records release was one of my favorite albums and I found myself fearful of change. However, I bought it from a local record shop the day it came out and have been listening to it frequently over the last couple of days. On my first listen, I had mixed feelings. I loved the two new tracks, "A Room Where Your Paintings Hang" and "We Burn The Leaves," but I found myself attached to some of the older mixes of the familiar tracks. However, upon further listens, this album has truly revealed itself to me. It is beautiful, haunting, memorizing. Ari and the gang have created a masterpiece. This album deserves more recognition than it's getting and I hope that the band's switch to Anti Records will allow countless others to discover the beauty that is Lost In The Trees.

I heard "Walk Around the Lake" last week on my local NPR station, and I was blown away. (I had not heard of them previously). The song went through me like few ever have. A few days later I downloaded the entire CD and I was not disappointed. The singer has a beautiful, crisp voice, and the way they use so many different instruments to create original music is amazing. I haven't listened to music in a while because I haven't heard much that moves me lately, but this CD got me back into it. LITT is what I consider truly artistic. I'm so glad I found them.

I saw Lost in the Trees perform this album live, with full orchestra, and what amazed me was their unity and sound. The versatility of all the players with the instruments was incredible to watch, and all the different sounds coming together--it was like looking out on a crowd of protesters, fighting for a common cause with their beauty radiating from the confluence of their diverse persons. I don't think they were protesting, but from the similar power of the music, there was a perceptibly cathartic effect on the audience, who clapped as if they had all felt the struggle and wonder with life and understanding that the music and lyrics center around.

I live in Raleigh, and Lost in the Trees are from just up the road, so why on EARTH did I not get around to listening to them until recently? I see this as a grave error on my part. Ari Picker has a background in orchestral/soundtrack scoring, with a degree from Berklee School of Music in Boston (right down the road from New England Conservatory, a school I used to attend). While that is certainly an impressive pedigree, I wouldn't care if he didn't produce such rich, lush landscapes of sound which support his heartachingly cutting yet touching lyrics. I started listening to All Alone in an Empty House casually a few weeks ago, knowing I'd be seeing them live at the new Motorco venue in nearby Durham, NC soon. The album is part soundtrack, part indie rock, part chamber music, part symphony, and yet it all seems to make sense together. It alludes heavily to Ari's difficult early life (there was a recent story in the local Independent Weekly which told more specifically about his history), but you don't necessarily need to rake that ride with him to appreciate this album musically. I started listening *not* realizing the pain inherent in it, and as I've listened more, I've developed a more complex relationship and understanding of the lyrics. At every step down the rabbit hole, it is a worthwhile trip. I could tell you a lot about their live performance, but honestly, that would probably put me well up over the word limits here. Ari and his supporting musicians are intense, ethereal, and somewhat serious yet you never feel like you have to keep quiet like you're at a classical concert. The rock venue works well. The live show is a ride, and I recommend taking it if you can. One specific recommendation when listening to this album: Once you're starting to know it a little better, I recommend doing what I did the other night. Pop on headphones and listen to it, along, in an empty house, volume high. This is how it should be heard. 3am is the time I'd suggest. Maybe during a power outage, if you can swing it.

After previewing a few tracks, I downloaded the album. I would say the whole thing is great, but I can't get past the first song. I simply keep re-playing it. If I can eventually get past it, I'll update this review! ...Get this album!!

there really aren't enough words to express how amazing this album is. it's one where you can play all of the songs on repeat and never get sick of them. i'm in love.

What's that? You've never heard of Lost in the Trees. Come with me and we'll go on a little trip into the land of music that's better than what you're listening to now...

My friend and I both stumbled onto Lost in the Trees whilst shopping at Amoeba in Hollywood. "What's that?" we asked ourselves. "A mini orchestra? A darling, unpretentious singer with a gorgeous voice? An ensemble with talent? Absurd!" No, dear readers, it exists. Lost in the Trees creates a sound that is nothing short of emotionally exhilarating.

While many groups and singers today build a sound on the concept of distraction, Lost in the Trees is about precision. They know exactly how to describe emotions that in less adroit hands have been ground into cliche. While normal shows and normal music plays AT the audience, Lost in the the Trees plays WITH the audience. It's a cumulative experience; you'll find yourself inspired, your brain thinking more clearly, your senses heightened as if you had suddenly been dealt a swift blow to your nerve endings.

The actual band members are some of the kindest people I've met (granted, I live in LA, so it's exciting when someone puts down their cigarette to talk to me) and their talent is mind-blowing. I mean, come on, Emma plays the glockenspiel, French horn, autoharp, drums, and sings. So, unless you can do the same thing, I suggest you buy the album.

In short, Lost in the Trees feels like flying. And once you start listening to them, you'll want to fly forever.

I find the melodies, playing and arrangements on this album very very good -- beautiful and evocative, but the lyrics (can't make them all out) are not as good. In places, they are downright creepy...suggestions of violence, rot, drowning, people who have lost their hands,etc. This is a turn off for me. I also find the lead vocalist a little bit too over the top at times, pushing his voice into a wail. I might have found the lyrics and dramatic singing profound as a young adult, but in middle age I don't. I downloaded this when it was $5, but I'm afraid I'm going to delete it. It just doesn't work for me.

There are 3-4 songs on this CD that are full of raw power and deep emotion, others not so much. I appreciate the artistry of the assembled musicians though and it is, as a whole, a very good album.

The CD arrived at my house in a reasonable amount of time and is still in pristine condition, but my only complaint is the fact that the album did not come with a receipt of the order.