Customer Reviews

Razia's Shadow: A Musical

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i love the whole idea surrounding this work. there are so many different artists involved which is cool because it might open up some new doors for listeners who are looking for good music. personal highlights on this album would have to be the narration done by Aaron Weiss from mewithoutYou and guest vocals from John Gourley courtesy of Portugal. The Man on "Holy The Sea". two amazing bands which if you have not heard of them you must check them out. i just wonder how all of this will be performed live.

i'm not really into musicals, because they usually leave me crying hysterically in a corner somewhere after being repeatedly screamed at by the people around me for asking so many questions because i have trouble following along. anyways, after listening to Razia's Shadow i can honestly say that i still don't really know what's going on story wise but it sounds good. if anyone reads this please tell my family i miss them and i'm really sorry for causing them so much anger with all my questions and i hope they will explain it to me someday....

I had bought this album off ITunes the first week it was out. In an age where most of the cd's i buy with high hopes leave my cd player within days, this album is still rotating in my cd player. I admit I was not a fan of Forgive Durden's first album, but with "Razia's Shadow" Thomas Dutton has thoroughly impressed me.

Before diving into the story, the vast musical composition of this album grabbed me. Every track on this album is a calculated ping pong between strings and horns and piano and guitar/bass. Theres a great balance between all these instruments where they sound large and passionate, but you can also make out every instrument being played. The vocals are also very well recorded/produced. Lizzie Huffman impresses the hell out of me with her soulful croon on "The Missing Piece" as Nidria. Being a Say Anything fan I really dig how Max Bemis drops the line "i'm the spider/ crawl inside her" in "The Spider and The Lamps".

Besides from the music and vocals, you get very caught up in the story. A man with conflict towards the place he grew up, following nothing but what he feels is his born destiny, following his heart towards love and loss. The vocalist from mewithoutyou does a wonderful job narrating the tale. Leaving listeners with the moral "never surrender".

I've gained so much respect towards Dutton and co. for composing such a fantastic piece of music. If they ever decide to bring this tale to stage (which i think would be incredible) i will be first in line for tickets.

What can I really say about this album? It's tremendous. It's different. It's such a breath of fresh air in a stagnating music scene. Filled with aspects of theatre, opera, and obviously musicals (the whole album is basically an audio journey through a musical story). Guest vocals (Saves the Day, Say Anything, The Dear Hunter, Panic At The Disco, etc) from some of the most important singers in the current scene aren't used scatteringly (like some albums) but are actually used to absolutely enhance the story which is told.

Basically if you're into musicals at ALL or if you just want something different from the current neon pop craze, this is the first album you should pick up. It's not only one of my favorites of this year, but of the past decade. This album is important, now people just need to listen to it.

Only a few times a decade do albums come out that accomplish something grand. This album does that in so many ways. I enjoyed what I heard within the first minute. The first couple of tracks are very catchy. As the album progresses it develops a story that keeps you listening.

Favorite tracks:
The Missing Piece
Life is looking up
The Oracle

If the subtitle 'A Musical' doesn't pique your interest, perhaps the guest stars will - Forgive Durden's Thomas Dutton has assembled a veritable who's who of the contemporary emo/punk scene to flesh out the cast of his ambitious musical. Although the line-up is weighed down by scene-famous names like Max Bemis (Say Anything), Chris Conley (Saves the Day), Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco) and Shawn Harris (The Matches) amongst others, they all complement rather than overwhelm Dutton's fairytale vision of a struggle between light and darkness.

This is not your conventional album: as much as he can within the restraints of the album format, Dutton's created a virtual soundtrack to a musical that never was. Dutton naturally plays the lead roles, first as the fallen angel Ahrima whose ambition nearly causes the destruction of the world he helped create; and then as Adakias, the young prince who falls in Romeo-and-Juliet-esque love for the princess Anhura (The Hush Sound's Greta Salpeter, in beautiful form).

Aided by producer Casey Bates and brother Paul Dutton, Dutton's created the real sound of a stage musical complete with lush strings and orchestration, underscored by Rudy Gajadhar's (Gatsby's American Dream) drums.

Stand-out tracks include the urgent, uptempo 'Life is Looking Up'; the slow build of 'Toba the Tura' (ft. Chris Conley); and 'The Exit' (ft. Brendon Urie and This Providence's Dan Young) which succeeds wonderfully in creating a sense of character interaction and storyline. Special mention must also go out to Max Bemis as the Spider on 'The Spider and the Lamps' and Shawn Harris on 'Doctor, Doctor' for throwing themselves so whole-heartedly into creating such distinctive, sinister and memorable characters.

There are moments when the narrative falters - especially towards the somewhat rushed climax - and on first listen the unabashed theatricality (or cheesiness, depending on your stance on musicals) of tracks like 'Doctor, Doctor' or 'Meet the King' may take you aback. As a general criticism, I also really wish there had been more for the two female characters (Lizzie Huffman and Salpeter) to do apart from act as foils to Dutton's leads.

Overall, however, it's an album and a story that stands up to repeat listens. It's the strength of Dutton's melodies and lyrics that make this album as good as it is, and strong enough to persuade me overlook any minor shortfalls between ambition and achievement. This probably isn't the album anyone was expecting - an emo fantasy musical? come on! - but in many ways it seems like the an appropriate culmination of the literary ambitions always displayed in Forgive Durden's earlier and more easily categorised (though no less interesting and challenging) work. Highly recommended.

The aspirations of Forgive Durden in this album were surely unattainable but Thomas and Paul Dutton but they have produced an amazing compilation of songs that will move you emotionally and physically. Trying to follow the footsteps of legends like Howard Ashman and Alan Menken while giving it a punk-rock tinge fated them to pale in comparison but in my opinion, Razia's Shadow is the greatest thing to happen to punk-rock/emo music since My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade."

The breadth and scope of the album is dumbfounding. With full orchestral arrangements, a dozen guest voices, and genuinely honest (although sometimes childish and naive) lyrics, I cannot conjure enough superlatives for this work. Every track is meticulously constructed, completely original in its own way, while still staying true to the thematic elements of the album. Reoccurring motifs are sprinkled throughout the albums and many guest actors adapt and twist his/her voice to fit the universe of the story, indicating excellent direction by Thomas Dutton.

The booklet is filled with beautiful illustrations and full transcriptions of the songs that immerse you into the world of Razia's Shadow. It should be noted that the narrator's (the lead singer from the band mewithoutYou) calm, fatherly voice could easily be mistaken for a professional orator.

My own gripe? This should have been a vinyl with a huge storybook integrated into the packaging.

If I could give this album a "%" score, it would be a solid 95%. My only gripe is not so much with the music as it is with the story itself. It's rather childish and I have some trouble suspending my disbelief, especially at the line "have your babies too." If you listen to the album, you'll know what I mean.

Amazing play without having to go anywhere! Forgive Durden is extremely talented! So good even schools have done this play on their stage. I would recommend everyone get this!

This is one of the most beautiful works of art I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I somehow never found this album until this year, which is crazy because I'm a huge fan of Panic at the Disco, mewithoutYou and the other bands whose members are featured. It encompasses so many styles, so many vocal talents, a moving plot driven by deeply powerful lyrics, and quite simply the most incredible instrumental composition I have heard, tying together the genres of musical/soundtrack, punk, pop, alt rock, indie rock and so many others. I can't help listening to the entire CD from beginning to end every time I turn it on. It is like nothing else.

My compliments to Thomas Dutton, the artist responsible. Nothing against Forgive Durden, but in my opinion Dutton's true talent lies in creating art like this. Razia's Shadow is a true modern masterpiece.

If you enjoy music of any kind, do yourself a favor and pick up Razia's Shadow - I'm willing to bet you won't regret it. I'm not familiar with half the people that contributed to the album, not to mention I am not a big fan of musicals/soundtracks, but I can't stop listening to it. Buy it!

Besides being in agreement with all that has been said here previous to me, I say; Thank God there is hope for the music industry with the artist's that are featured in this piece. Between Forgive Durden and The Dear Hunter, I am encouraged not to metioned thrilled when I listen to these works. Takes me back to the 60's when we used to listen to reel to reel taped music for hours. I hope to hear a lot more from both of these groups. Maybe others will follow suit and the music industry will come alive again. Until then as with Dear Hunter, I say BRAVO!

This cd was given to me as a Christmas gift by my best friend. I am a huge fan of musicals, and while this is definitely not your "typical" musical it has the story, orchestration and gorgeous catchy melodies that get stuck in your head. I love this cd and recommend it to musical and non-musical fans alike.