Customer Reviews

Invisible Ones

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

 

 

Okay, I'm not a fancy music critic who knows how to impress with big, incomprehensible, seemingly made up words when it comes to music but I do know good music when I hear it, and this is it. While, I hold the opinion that Orenda's album is not quite as good as her work with Azure Ray, nor is it as good as her fellow Azure Ray Bandmate, Maria Taylor's debut solo album, it still holds enough merit on it's own. Personally, I'd say it's a good album best to be listened to from beginning to end, but If I were to name my personal favorite of the album, it would have to be "Blind Asylum". Whenever I see four stars on Amazon.com I tend to think that it's probably a really bad album because seeing anything less than four stars is a rare thing for me. So if you're reading this, just know my intention is to give it four and a half stars, because while it's not quite deserving of five stars, it's an attempt I recognizing as almost there.

I never understood how that saying went, like...is it the sum of the parts is greater the whole meaning, A and B are better separated than they are as AB? Or is it like peanut butter ain't peanut butter without the jelly? I don't know. But all I'm saying is this: I know the point of Orenda Fink is that its NOT Azure Ray, so it's silly to long for it. But I think...I think...Orenda did something really ambitious and adventurous here, which gets all the kudos I can muster. But it feels a little phoned in. And a little...I don't know. Born again kind of thing? Like...Hello, my name is Orenda Fink, I enjoy breathy songs about bittersweet love...but wow, I totally just spent a couple weeks in Haiti and now I'm Orenda Fink, voodoo sex creature and indie folk troubadour for the downtrodden, delivering their heartwrenching untold tale to wishy-washy post-scenesters.

That was harsh and unfounded, sorry. I really do adore Orenda Fink, but:

The strides she has taken with instrumentation seem more like gimmicks than actual musical maturation or experimentation. Here we have: tribal sounding backup vocals, some extra percussion and lots and lots and lots of Haitian imagery(I mean, the music video, the facepaint.)

On the other hand, Orenda seems to have pushed herself to another level vocally. She adopts a raspier tone, a little less ethereal and a bit more expressive. I like that.

I don't know what my problem with this cd is. I saw them live, and was pretty impressed. The CD is solid. I don't think any tracks stand out as dead weight. But for some reason, I find the whole thing kind of forgettable. Yes, it is something different for the more ambitious half of Azure Ray, but it isn't really all that different for music in general. I've heard female-centric indie bands. The thing that made Azure Ray so alluring is their sound, how stripped down and honest it seemed, it was gritty sometimes, but always inspired, and definitely unique.

So, for Orenda stepping out of her element and doing a great job, I give her a B+. For presenting something memorable to the music community, I give a C.

Being a massive fan of Azure Ray's work, I was initially disappointed that Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor decided to "go it alone." In fact, Maria Taylor's first album 11:11 is spectacular (and while similar to Azure Ray's work, it has more vibrancy and originality). With Orenda's album, I have to disagree with most reviewers who say that Maria's is a better album. I found that most often, my favorite Azure Ray songs were those written by Orenda and with her on lead. Invisible Ones is a really exceptional album full of intense mood and music. The track "Invisible Ones Guard the Gate" is southern folk/spookiness to the max--excellent stuff. And songs like "Blind Asylum" are lush and poignant. For sure, Orenda is grittier (check out her side project, Art in Manila...another great album), but grittier doesn't mean less prettier (haha).

You won't disappointed if you buy this album. it doesn't rock. it's something to listen to while you're doing something tranquil. it's catchy but not shallow. it's really easy to like. I still like them better together though. the band she was in before putting out this album. oh yeah, azure ray. I actually want to get all of both of their solo albums. this album leads me to believe they will all be good.

This "import" version of the cd is EXACTLY the same as the domestic version. I'm not sure that this was even imported upon its release. It is on Saddle Creek, a U.S. label that is NOT prone to releasing imported versions of its releases.

it's good. i like maria's record better but this is still good. a little too deep and political for me at times but she really did good things with 'blind asylum' ...and 'bloodline' is ultra-catchy. on first listen it sounds kind of poetic and wistful but the album is really much darker than you'd think... borderline existential at times..

i saw her in concert this summer. such a warm, humble person. this is the kinda stuff more people should support..