Customer Reviews

Nest

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

 

 

Despite some college radio play when this was released, the Odds were overlooked when they created this pop masterpiece. There is not a bad cut on the entire CD, and 'Someone Who's Cool' and 'Hurt Me' are simply two of the best and most interestingly recorded power pop songs you will find (note the horns at the end of 'Hurt Me'-- they didn't have to do that but it adds so much...). The Odds have quit the quest for stardom for the time being. Too bad. Buy this CD and mourn the loss. Their CD 'Good Weird Feeling' is excellent as well.

This album is obviously close to slipping from the ranks of the available. Which is strangely appropriate if tragic. It has to be played a fair number of times to be fully appreciated. The 3 singles hopefully will keep you listening long enough to notice that there is brilliance elsewhere. Just try the 3 and 4 cuts, 'Hurt Me' and 'Heard You Wrong'. 'Hurt Me' is a racecar-fast workout of classic guitar riffs played off against inscrutable but amusing wordplay. 'Heard You Wrong' is a funny and bloodchilling portrait of a just-dumped guy lying in disbelief in bed. Also try the last 4 cuts in sequence, from the sweet 'Out Come Stars' to the raving 'At Your Word'. It's music for the brain delivered with haunting melody and killer pop-rock hooks. Don't let it die.

The only reason I'd give Nest only 4 stars is that I want to leave room at the top for Good Weird Feeling. Don't be fooled by all that "sounds like" stuff; everyone's influenced by the Beatles -- the Beatles defined the context within which almost all modern music must be considered. And look further than their radio singles. Fact is, Odds don't just blend in with today's multitude of fun pop-single-producing bands. They offer a rare combination of honesty, poignancy and intelligent, cutting sense of humour that makes listening carefully to the lyrics really worthwhile. Musically, Nest is strong, and I agree it's a great mood album. This album doesn't get tired. By the way, Odds absolutely kick live. It was their live show that prompted me to buy Good Weird Feeling, which is the album you should buy if you don't get Nest.

Another criminally overlooked band. For whatever reason they never got the recognition and album sales they should have. This CD is very good from beginning to end. Not a flash in the pan type of band. They sound similar to how Guster sounds today. "Heard You Wrong" could be played on Guster's Keep It Together and I don't think anyone would notice the addition. And I mean that in a good way so if you are not a fan of Guster or even if you are check out the Odds. At these prices you're getting a sure thing for your money.

"Nest" is the 4th set from this Vancouver band and has been described as the Lovin' Spoonful, Badfinger & Hollies with a 90's sensibility. Early in their career, they toured with Warren Zevon. As a fairly new discovery for me, "Make You Mad" is currently riding at the top of my own personal Top 10 with its throbbing guitar line & Craig Northey's breezy vocals, "When I call you beautiful, it's cause I can; and when you think I'm sucking up, I sort of am." The opener "Someone Who's Cool" was a modest hit, "It was the suit that got me the gig; it was the tear that got me the girl." "Hurt Me" thunders propulsively with breezy Beach Boy-like background vocals, "Low on meat & high on flies; you were hunted down by packs of lies." "Heard You Wrong" has a pretty melody with acoustic guitar predominating with an addictive guitar line on a dreamy breakup song. "Tears & Laughter" pumps up the amps with driving electric leads. Odds give some great hooks, a sweet pop melody combined with a cutting lyric on "Nothing Beautiful," "Out to rot when the going got tough, cockroaches turn adversity to immunity." "Say You Mean It Wondergirl" is a breezy thrill ride while "Out Come the Stars" is a midtempo radio-friendly harmony fest. "Pails of blue glass beads and baubles in the toilets of the supermodels," Northey intones on a whimsical "Suppertime," somewhere bewteen fantasy & utopia. The CD concludes with "At Your Word," a thundering rocker that references the Big Bopper & Buddy Holly, "I'll take you at your word & as far as I can throw you, leave you with the baby & I hardly even know you." "Nest" is an excellent set that mostly thunders, occasionally coos, but creates a great tension between the power pop hooks and the cutting edge lyric. U Snooze, U Lose with this little diamond. Enjoy!

Harmony? What's that? The Odds are a refreshing, fairly old-fashioned band with great guitar work, drums, and the odd, mysterious thing called harmony that seems to be absent from all but a few bands in this decade. "Out Come Stars" was probably my favorite track, combining a modern sound with a good dose of 60's era guitar. Overall, a greta blend of old and new.

As a Western Canadian, I've been hearing from The Odds for the past several years, and "Nest" is the first album I've gone out and picked up from them. There is a definite wit at work with these guys, and a little more depth than you'll find with similar bands like Sloan or (shudder) The Hansons. "Make You Mad" is a biting insight to a materialistic relationship ("The day outside is nice enough/Let's stay in with all our stuff..."), and "Nothing Beautiful Lasts" is an extraordinarily cynical tribute to inevitable decay set to an extraordinarily lovely melody. While there are weak points in this album, these guys show a lot of promise. Definitely a worthwhile listen.

If my house ever catches fire, I will be quickest to save two of my most prized posessions; the debut album by Fountains of Wayne and this CD.If ever there was a contender for the power pop Hall of Fame, this little miracle certainly deserves be on the short list.

hey, i would just like to let you know, that the personalities of the members of the band are well reflected in their lyrics with great certainty and confidence. i have know two of the members since i was very young, and met the other two when i grew up a bit, and i just wanted to give props to them, and although they arent together anymore, their words have effected me positivly and will stay with me forever.

This album was not bad for a new band. I won it on a radio station and had no clue who they were but found out that they were pretty good.