Customer Reviews

Effloresce

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This album is essential. I do not know how Oceansize have managed to get by me for this long, or how they have managed to stay under the radar. This is what music is supposed to do to you when you put on the headphones and press play. What a brilliant album. They have their own thing going on, but I would venture to guess that if you are a fan of Cave In's Jupiter or Antenna, the more rocking side of Radiohead, Porcupine Tree, the new Candiria (What Doesn't Kill You), Eleven, or even Tool or QOTSA, you could find something to love about this album. What an extrordinary piece of work.

Oceansize are one of the best new bands around, and their debut, Effloresce does not disappoint. Blending the post-rock of Mogwai with the prog-metal of Tool and Cave In and the electronics of Massive Attack, with a dash of Cooper Temple Clause thrown in, they present an intriguing cocktail of sounds. 'Catalyst' is a bold statement indeed: a riveting collection of unorthodox time signatures, a controlled chaos of metal riffery and a strong melodic core. Meanwhile 'One Day All This Could Be Yours' is a sinister Coopers-ish builder with a dirty bassline, monotonal hypnotised vocals, and a shimmering 3-guitar attack that builds from atmospherics to furious heaviosity, while 'Amputee', the closest to a straight-forward rock song (still not very close!) is a swirling, pleading and complexly produced rocker that evokes a torrent of furious wind in a night-time cityscape.

'Women Who Love Men Who Love Drugs' carries the post-rock torch brilliantly, and 'Long Forgotten' is a surprisingly touching, quieter closer with emotional sensitivity and some beautiful cello, yet still a vivid array of sounds and production. There are a couple of unnecessary instrumentals: 'Rinsed' and 'Unravel', which don't really merit being individual tracks in their own right, but the success rate here is staggering: each of the other tracks brings something unique and astounding. A fantastic, though difficult, debut.

Me likey- Very well produced with layered guitars interwoven with electronic sounds pitting psychedelic soundscapes against progressive fusion rock. As the band name suggests the sound is sometimes like Jane's Addiction but with a Pink Floyd meets Tool mentality and an Incubus-like modern sound. Having said that... they still created a very original sound. Catalyst really kicks but the rest of the album is meant to be absorbed slowly as the songs do not follow the strict verse/chorus/verse/chorus formula of pop music but rather take you on musical journeys much like MarsVolta. Translation: you won't hear this on the radio.

I got this album last year but was hesitant to write a review. The album has such a huge, epic sound i wanted to wait until it sunk in a bit more. However, i can still say it is truly fantastic. The structure of the album is brilliant: it opens with an instramental rock piece leading on to 3 progressive rock songs. Then there is another, slower instrumental piece which leads to the three most accesable rock songs(accesable by oceansize standard- they are still pretty complex)Then there is a final slow instramental piece that Labradford would be proud of, which leads on to the final three, slower tracks.
I find it hard to compare them to any other band as a frame of reference because they draw on so many different sounds. At times prog rock, at times post rock, at times just plain rock.

L'album Efflorescence de Oceansize est probablement le meilleur album de 2003 qu'il m'ait été donné d'entendre. Les arrangements rappellent les constructions progressives des bands des années 70 tels: King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes, Gentle Giant mais, avec un son plus actuel à la Tool, Radiohead et Perfect Circle. Ce qui est remarquable c'est la voix puissante du chanteur et les refrains hyper-mélodiques. Le travail de studio est impécable et le talent de ces musiciens est indiscutable. Simplement inclassable!

Probably one of the best albums of 2003, im glad this is out in the US for other people to discover. Think of it as something in the same vein as Cave Ins Jupiter, but harder and more obviously prog. The whole album is definately epic clocking in at around 75 minutes, its relentless. It maintains a dreamy lush soundscape throughout the album, its absolutely beautiful. Highly reccomended.
They will be touring with McLusky this summer, please try and see them, both of them are phenomenal.

Its very rare to come across a band like this these days. These guys are true musicians and obviously very serious in what they do. Lately I've had a really hard time finding good mature bands its mostly little teenyboppers worried more about their tatoos and the way they look rather than the music they create. This band offers you music not fashion isn't that what it's all about?