Customer Reviews

Spain

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

 

 

"Spain" is the sophomore album from the Orlando-based band Between The Trees. "One tree represents where time and existence begins," ventures lead singer Ryan Kirkland. "The other is the end of everything. Between them is the time we're given on Earth. What matters is what we do with that time." This band had me totally hooked with their awesome song "The Way She Feels" from "The Story And The Song". Some of my favorite mainstream bands are The Fray, Snow Patrol, Keane, Jimmy Eat World, Death Cab For Cutie and Dashboard Confessional. If you like those artists, you'll enjoy Between The Trees.

"We Can Try" has me hooked again and is the first single from "Spain", which is a very good album and ranks in my top 20 albums of the year. Musically the sound is very polished and catchy. Lyrically, these are mostly relationship oriented songs and sound like softer songs by The Fray, Mae and Anberlin. Many of the songs have a piano-based style and "We Can Try", "Spain", "The One Thing", "Miss You", "Move", "Scarecrow" and "Changed By You" are my favorite songs on this album. "Scarecrow" sums up one of the spiritual themes of the album: "I wasn't made for this world". "Changed By You" has the lyrics "God's grace has overtaken me, needless to say I'm blessed by you". The song is a very sincere love song and could be a wedding song.

Fans of Edison Glass, The Afters, Mainstay, Until June and Abandon should also enjoy Between The Trees.

A few times a year I come across bands that fascinate me. These guys will definitely get bigger with this new album! I love Ryan's voice! Sounds a bit like Jon Foreman of Switchfoot but better.

The style of some of the songs definitely reminds me of Coldplay, especially "Miss You" and "We Can Try". Given how much I like Colplay, that's a compliment. That stylistic similarity is part of the reason I like this album, but they their song "Spain" can stand on it's own.

There are a few mentions of God and perhaps more if I listened to the lyrics more intently beyond enjoying their sound and "alternative" style music. So they're Christian Contemporary, but they could almost pass for secular if you aren't paying attention. Like a gateway into the genre.

Definitely recommended for fans of alternative or Coldplay.

I really liked this CD. I had heard one of Between The Trees songs off their first album and after reading a few reviews of this CD, I decided to purchase it. It was fantastic. They have quite a few upbeat love songs, I really like the style of their music. If you like Indie music, this CD is definitely worth the money.

When Between The Trees released their debut album, "The Story and The Song," independently back in 2006, it was met with some critical acclaim, but the band has still managed to remain below the radar. Spain is their follow up release, and despite some turmoil with their record label and a couple lineup changes, the album is a collection of pop/rock gems. Borrowing some Fray-like, piano-driven sweeping melodies and earnestness while infusing enough diversity to satisfy throughout, Between The Trees offers up a very solid sophomore effort and will surely win over even more fans this time around.

The album leads off with the catchy "We Can Try," which sets a very melodic tone and sets things up well for what's to come. The earnestness I spoke of is present from the beginning as lead singer Ryan Kirkland sings about past mistakes and moving forward: "I know things aren't quite like what they used to be / Different faces, different places, yeah. / We can try." There's almost a pleading quality to Kirkland's voice that works well singing these types of lines.

The tempo is slowed slightly on "The One Thing," then "One Last Time (Darlin' II)," starts slow but kicks into a beautifully-powerful chorus about lost love. "Story of a Boy" follows, as Kirkland again sings of romantic love and a coming of age story, singing: "This is the story of boy who fell in love/ This is the story of a boy who grows up / This is the story of a boy who fell in love / And the man he becomes."

My personal favorite track on the album, though, has to be "Scarecrow." Here, Kirkland sings over a gorgeous, piano-driven background, utilizing his falsetto throughout, repeatedly stating, "Maybe I wasn't made for this world." I will say there are a few moments on the album where the falsetto was a little grating for me (most notably on the title track), but on "Scarecrow," it works extremely well. There's a weighty sense of hopeful longing for something more that captures the human experience extremely well. We aren't where we were created to be. We exist here, but our soul longs passionately for something else. If you've ever felt this way, do yourself a favor: Get this album, put on some headphones, crank up the volume, and experience the emotion conveyed here. Beautiful.

Finally, the album closes with the "Changed By You," easily my second favorite song. Kirkland's voice sounds amazing here, with nothing but a piano accompanying him throughout the first verse and chorus as he sings a beautiful melody about the impact one individual can have on your life. Strings are added tactfully in the second half, adding power to the song without taking away from the vocals.

Simply put, Spain is a great album. There is honest emotion, exquisitely layered over music that hits the right tone as well. Fans of The Fray will no doubt enjoy what Between The Trees have delivered here, but I think anyone who appreciates a realness to what's being communicated in song will enjoy this collection. I look forward to hearing more from these guys.

I love this album. Not only that, but I showed it to my friends, and I keep catching them listening to it in their free time.
It is catchy, Ryan's voice is wonderful, the music part of it is great. I'd recommend this to anyone