Customer Reviews

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

 

 

this Athens, Georgia band has created something wholly unique, largely due to the spectacular voice of its frontman. its lineage is connected to Bright Eyes, but my take on the sound is MURMUR-era REM covering early Human League songs with a dash of solo Lindsay Buckingham. Both Conor Oberst and Michael Stipe make guest appearances on this bad boy. You will not hear a more unique,complex and satisfying record this year.

Now It's Overhead is another band from the infamous Saddle Creek Records, and this album definitely does not disappoint. It's incredibly catchy, and the drums especially are very fun to listen to. The musicianship is just excellent - tons of great ideas come together here. Andy LeMaster also has a uniquely unearthly voice which adds to the already great atmosphere. "Wait In A Line" is arguably the best song on the album, but the rest are also great. The production is just dead-on here. Most of the time you can't really tell what they're singing about, but upon close examination you realize that's not what this album's about. It's all about atmosphere and it's actually a pretty good album to use as background music. Musically it's indie rock with a little bit of electronic bits thrown in, and that addition was definitely a good choice. The sound isn't really original, but somehow it seems like you've never heard anything like this. Indie rock fans will no doubt love this record, and it does indeed have some mass appeal despite its lack of "hit songs". The worst song on the album is arguably "The Decision Made Itself", , really, they're all great. All in all, this is absolutely recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

I heard "Reverse" on an Internet radio station and went out and bought the album. With all the crap on regular radio, you forget that good music is actually still being made! This has some really strong songs (although a couple of more "ordinary" efforts keep my rating from being 5 star) and there is a sensibility here that is totally fresh.

This is a great album. Simply put. I have not removed it from my cd player since I've had it. Andy LeMaster is brilliant. This is what I call real music. So many artists are overlooked because people accept what is placed in front of them.
The songs on this record are intense. They have a real three in the morning appeal. I saw Now It's Overhead perform live in St Louis, MO. They were touring with REM. They were great and so was REM. Michael Stipe came out on to the stage and personally introduced them. I was suprised. For some reason Orenda Fink from Azure Ray was not there. Well anyway, great band, great record, so, buy it.

I bought this album because I love Azure Ray, and when I heard that those two talented ladies were involved I bought this instantly. I was sorely disappointed.

I expected to hear thier beautiful voices here, not the average male vocals that NIO's frontman has. I mean, when you have Maria Taylor & Orenda Fink in your band and put them on backing guitar with no singing responsibilities it's like hiring Eddie Van Halen to play the triangle. What a waste of talent.

That said, it's not a bad album, but it could have been so, so much better. I won't buy thier new album until I hear whether or not the ladies of Azure Ray are singing on it. Bottom line: If you want more mediocre indy rock, buy this. There's really nothing special about it though.

Andy LeMaster is one of the most overlooked musicians on the Saddle Creek label. He is a great songwriter and lyricist. It is a surprise that more people don't know about him. He has been busy over the years being an engineer in his studio in Athens, Georgia. He has also been a member of Bright Eyes and Azure Ray. This second album he takes more chances and develops his art. This band seems inspired by a lot of early 1980s new wave music, but they take it over from there. Even Conor Oberst and Michael Stipe make appearances. LeMaster is beyond creating a This Mortal Coil scenario. Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink from Azure Ray play on this record but seem invisible. It's hardly an Azure Ray side project. They probably drank a lot while making this record. Maria Taylor is known as one of the heaviest drinkers in rock right now. It's sad music but it's all-good.