Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A change of pace but no change in quality tunes, October 15, 2007
I've been a fan of VAST for several years already. However, I remember during the first three albums I thought I could even describe how VAST was. I generally told people it was electronic rock with new wave & other dark pop sounds, sometimes meshed with worldly elements. Well, you think that's what's on "April"?
That actually couldn't be further from the truth. But that's not a bad thing at all. It's a change of pace, but there's still the overall meloncholy feel that's been in the more recent VAST work. The real surprise for me, other than the lack of voice samplings, is the fact that NONE of these are electric guitar tracks let alone distorted. I was used to even a few of these songs here and there even on Music for People there were heavier moments. Also, I remembered thinking that was a stripped down sounding VAST album. This album proves more of my previous conceptions to be incorrect.
"April" is a strong return for VAST after three years. One thing I really like about the record is how well-recorded it is. The studio is just incredible. VAST could just match a stripped down album with some lo-fi production but instead makes the elements all shine through, and it doesn't sound flat in the least. Don't worry if this is awkward, there's still quite a bit of orchestration on the record and Jon sounds good as usual. Where he at times echoed his influences he now doesn't even sound like those. It's more Americana influenced than before too. I guess this is a taste of Jon Crosby & the Resonator band to come. That would be great too.
I don't mind that Jon's continued the more "downer" songs. They still remain really beautiful on here, like on the instant classic "Everything Passing By," which actually kind of reminds me of "The Scientist" by Coldplay in its structure in parts. The music is definitely a big maturation from before. Jon's lyrics are sometimes pretty interesting ("You're a zombie in a dress and I'm your clown") and at other times can make some pretty nice stories, possibly inspired by other Americana artists (see "Tattoo of Your Name"). Also, it has a couple of songs that were co-written with other people, like "Sunday I'll Be Gone" which was written with former VAST guitarist Patrick McGuire.
It's been four albums and I don't know if I can be critical to any VAST music. But I guess I couldn't be more thankful for the fact that Jon's making music and putting approaches that I could have even appreciated perfectly if he was going in a formula towards the other records (which are more in the root of what I listen to anyway). A strong album of the year contender. It's too bad that not many people buy VAST albums, and these are the ones who are more focused on whining about how no good music is out. Go figure.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Different, but amazing nonetheless, October 21, 2007
I've been a fan of Jon Crosby's VAST since he released the very first album and have had the pleasure of following the evolution of his music ever since then. Like some of the other reviews have already pointed out, his latest effort is quite unlike the first three albums. However, this is most definitely NOT a bad thing. Jon's music evolves with time, but it's still Jon's music. Unlike other bands who change their sound just to move with the times or in an attempt to stay popular, his band changes their sound in an attempt to follow their own unique style. Yes, I will be the first to admit that I miss the dark, electronic sounds of the first album. I miss the heavier tracks present even in their last album, "Nude", which was already considerably mellower than the first two. Regardless, there are three things that I can still appreciate that will most likely never change: the sound of Jon Crosby's voice, his beautiful musical arrangements, and his clever lyrics.
Jon released a first version of this album months before he released the official, finished product. The fans had the opportunity to hear the music he was working on while it was still in its initial stages. He did it when he released "Nude" as well and I think fans really appreciated being somehow included in the process. I have to say that I love the versions of the songs that he released on the finished "April". Among my favorites are "Sunday I'll Be Gone", which featured higher pitched vocals (compared to the first version he released) that suit Jon's voice rather well, and "Frog", a song that I'd heard mentioned before by fans because it was apparently played in previous shows, and yet never recorded. Of course, "Tattoo of Her Name" has a not-quite country feel to it, matching the lyrics perfectly and sounding amazing. "You're Too Young" has a very cool guitar riff in the beginning and in between the chorus and verses that I really love.
Overall a very solid album. Yes, it isn't quite like the style of music we all tend to associate with VAST's earlier, but so what? It's good music, well-written, and beautifully arranged. If you prefer VAST's first album, it might take a few listens to really get used to it (I admit I've had to listen to several songs a few times to really appreciate them; I had to do the same thing with "Nude"). I still miss the heavier tracks, such as "Turquoise", "Thrown Away", or "The Last One Alive", and like another reviewer, I hope he integrates tracks like that in the next album. Regardless, 5 stars for another brilliant piece of music by VAST.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For one more day with you, October 16, 2007
Upon initial listens to this album, I think it's the best Vast album yet. It's subtler, but Jon Crosby seems to have combined all the best elements of his previous three albums into a sound that's very uniquely his own and come out with something that's wonderfully emotional, warm, poetic and beautiful. Maybe he's found his groove with this album. It's very complete. It doesn't feel like it's missing anything and it doesn't feel like there's anything that should be removed. If I could draw one complaint, it may be that there aren't any real heavy songs. If Jon can incorporate that element back into the next album, he may be able to take Vast to new highs. This album was worth the wait. It just edges out their debut, which before now I thought to be their best work. I highly recommend it.
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