Customer Reviews

Final Battle

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

 

 

Truly one of the most under appreciated albums of 2004. Featuring the lyrical genius of Graham Smith, this masterpiece is a return to the promising talent glimpsed in Ponyoak. Toned down is the pop, turned up is the raw emotion of loving, losing, and living.

If you don't like it the first time, listen to it again. I'll contend that "2 Guitars" is the finest song of 2004, an epic that will long remain unequaled. "Heat", "Master, I", "You & Me & Leslie", "My So-Called Secret Life", "Ushc Brand Men's Jeans", once this album sinks its teeth into you, it'll never leave your cd player.

When I first recieved this cd, I was slightly disappointed. All the songs seemed to sound the same, and sometimes his voice (due to mediocre quality, I would suppose) could hardly be heard over the guitar. However, after listening to it, I fell in love with it. The songs are actually very different, and the lyrics are sung with such causality that it surprises you with the sheer genuis and introspection of them. The voice of Graham Smith is so flawed, and in such a way that you love the sound of it. The level of emotion, occasionally, rivals Jeff Mangum, and the end result is amazing. The best songs, in my opinion, are "Two Guitars", "Can You Do It Quicky Enough", "UsHc Brand Men's Jeans", and "Ortolan". It's a good buy, just do it.

Sounds like: Neutral Milk Hotel, Jeff Mangum

I totally agree with the other comments on this album. I first heard of Graham Smith when I recorded the song 'The Heat' with streamripper off an on-line new music station. With about 500 songs I saved off, and many plays of that playlist, I noticed this song climb to the top of my 'Top 25 most played' list in iTunes. I decided to buy the album out of sheer guilt, and have been really happy with it.

Again, as other reviewers have noted, there is a very consistent sound to the songs, you almost start to wonder how many chords Graham can play in the process. But once you start to really listen to the depth and complexity of the lyrics Graham writes, you really want to listen to them over and over again. The emotion and energy he puts into singing them can not be ignored.

"2 Guitars" a 6 minute rant with almost no repeated chorus. I've listened to the song so many times, and still can't remember half of it -- but that doesn't stop me from driving around town blaring it as loud as my car stereo will go, and trying like hell to sing along.

I would highly recommend this album, but do accept that it may take a bit of work on your part to get into it. Nothing great is ever easy, is it?