Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
No, not best band of the year, May 1, 2005
To A.M. Ward of Cambridge - you're right, Oceansize was not best band of the year as you question. They're the best band in the past 12 years. As music continues to devolve into the formulaic and most 'heavy' bands indulge in pop riffs or jump on the rap bandwagon, i.e. nu-metal, Oceansize comes along and raises the bar for future bands everywhere. With epic songs that are emotionally charged, lyrically and musically complex, they're a force to be reckoned with in the music world.
Fortunately (so I can continue to keep them all to myself), they'll probably never see much fame due to the average dimwit anxiously awaiting that new Audioslave CD or perhaps Linkin Park's new one.
If you're reading this review, do yourself a favor and pick this up. If forced to sub categorize them, I would file them under progressive metal, but not in the same vein as Tool or similarly sounding bands. They have a more ethereal sound which often shifts multiple times in a single song, but they definitely have chops, and some heavy duty ones at that.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crisp, well-rounded rock; Great new discovery, March 8, 2007
This is one of the best new bands I discovered in 2006. They have been described as Progressive Rock, Post-Rock, Indie, or simply Alternative Rock, but that doesn't really matter. All I know is that it is very interesting, fresh, and well-rounded music. The band has a huge dynamic range, from extremely fast and heavy with smooth, powerful vocals to very relaxing and atmospheric.
The music is very melodic, clear and well-produced, the songs always flowing and changing to new and exciting ideas. The guitars are very lush and full sounding, during both heavier and mellow parts.
Oceansize may be slightly more slightly more mainstream and catchy sounding than the average "progressive rock" band; however I don't see that as a bad thing whatsoever. They are still quite adventurous and artistic in their writing style. Many songs, like "Amputee" for example would be extremely radio-friendly and accessible to almost any music fan. However, there is also a good share of 8-10 minute monstrosities. The last two minutes of "Massive Bereavement" accelerates into probably the most hard-rocking part of the album, and most of "Saturday Morning Breakfast Show" contains a few excellent progressive buildups and backflips, possibly the most schizophrenic track. "Women Who Love Men Who Love Drugs" is an eight and a half minute very laid-back tune containing very comforting, cascading guitars that sound beautiful, but perhaps a bit too repetitive after a while.
There are even a few instrumental pieces mixed in. I hardly noticed that when listening to the album as a whole and not watching the tracks. "Rinsed" is an extremely mellow piece with almost no progression or excitement, almost a buffer to catch your breath after "Massive Bereavement" before beginning the next song. "Unravel" is a piano-driven piece with two layers of piano subtlety changing around a little.
Fans of Dredg, Porcupine Tree, Green Carnation, Riverside, Tool, perhaps even Anathema and Katatonia, and any other artistic or progressive rock or metal should definitely check this band out. Also, maybe even fans of more mainstream hard rock bands such as Incubus, Deftones, Collective Soul, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Fuel, etc. will enjoy Oceansize. I know I will be buying their second album soon and look forward to any future releases.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent recording, November 11, 2005
I must say that Oceansize is another excellent band to add to the list of "Bands to watch." Oceansize, much like Dredg and Porcupine Tree, have had a prog-style that has flown under the radar for much time, which is saddening. This album is worthy of a 5 star review and massive appreciation.
Listen to "Women Who Love Men Who Love Drugs" to get the perfect feel of a song you never want to stop, even though it's 8 minutes long. Then, the infectious "You Wish", which is infinitely more catchy than anything on the radio and would have made a great single. Then the heavy, drilling "Amputee", which creates a heavy, somber mood that is sometimes upbeat and then dark and deep. Haven't you heard enough? Buy the album. It's worth it.
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by Oceansize 
