Customer Reviews

Two Way Monologue

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
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I'm quite thrilled that I stumbled upon the music of Sondre Lerche. This artist has such a compelling flare to his music, that it makes most other artists out there seem childish. Being that he is only 21 years of age, one would think his music would be quite naive and inexperienced, but it is delightfully the opposite. His tunes touch your heart and leave you wanting more...and more. "Two Way Monologue" builds upon the classics of "Faces Down" and takes them to a new level of wonderful song crafting, superior guitar work, and fascinating vocal melodies. This album will grow on you upon repeated listens and will quickly rise to the top of your list of favorites. Now, imagine what he will do next! If I were to sum this album up in one word...Jackpot!

Two Way Monologue marked my first encounter with Sondre Lerche, and man, what a great introduction to a fantastic musician. This recording is all around sensational. Amazon's editorial review likened Sondre to some of his influences, Rufus Wainwright, Elvis Costello and Brian Wilson, but I think his work is quite distinct. Some elements of those artists might have been incorporated into Sondre's sound, but his delivery and song structure is entirely different from anything I've ever heard. As a 21-year-old, it's hard to imagine how he concocted such a stunning blend of lyrics and melodies. His words are quite lovely and poetic, as evidenced by the opening lines of Wet Ground, "Wet ground and the snow is still not falling/Circumstances are alarming, darling/The future is just a word, that's how I recall it/The past is much more present in our yawning" and the lilting It's Over, "When you could use the words reserved for a sad song/You'll find you've spent them up on God and everyone/Like anyone before." A number of songs left me completely awestruck, including the aforementioned songs and the title track, Two Way Monologue, the melancholy closer, Maybe You're Gone and the beautiful It's Our Job. This album is really great. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in advanced musicianship, evocative lyrics and a wholly breathtaking delivery.

In a world once devoid of singer/songwriters, we are now up to our necks with Gavin DeGraw's, Jason Mraz's, and John Mayer's. And once, we could measure an artist's integrity through their lyrics alone. But nowadays, as the need to sell that scrap of honesty away becomes more and more mandatory, they are able to peddle it away out of outlets not necessarily of a musical nature. The simplest example is Mayer with his blatant contradiction of his sensitive lyrical stylings in a late '03 interview in Rolling Stone, going as far as to say that he 'hates people calling him sensitive.' Then what do the lyrics mean to him? Not much, ostensibly.

But thankfully, every once in a while, in that flood of production line singers and songwriters there is an honest brilliance, a diamond in the rough. Sondre Lerche, a Norway native, and his sophomore album, Two Way Monologue, were just that.

Topped off with the beautiful instrumental piece "Love You," Two Way Monologue delivers with rousing arrangements and inspired lyrics throughout. The crowning achievement here however is the wonderful, intangible appeal of Lerche's voice, a thing of splendid range but with a touch of oldies' sensibility; it goes from unphased melancholy to quiet nonchalance to blinding optimism. There truly is something about it, alternating paces, changing utterances to whispers.

I would go on about standout tracks, but, honestly, all of them are something to talk about. My personal favorite however is "Counter Spark," a touching piece about falling in love with everyone's image of perfection. "On the Tower" is also a great song, with especially haunting vocals in the chorus: "Meet me halfway, by the bedrock, on the tower, on the tower." If you're like me, you probably heard his single, the titular "Two Way Monologue," first, which is also a spectacular song that well displays that "classics" sensibility he has; the music video furthers this feeling to quite an extent.

You could do no wrong at all by picking up Sondre Lerche's Two Way Monologue, a shining beacon in a world now degrading and disintegrating. All that could happen is he'd make another CD, and that wouldn't be bad at all.

So if you're "optionless, turkey-free, and blind," do yourself or someone you love a big favor and get this CD.

Sondre's first album "Faces Down" caught me right away, I couldnt stop listening to it for weeks. Even after I bought this one, I couldnt bring myself to switch out "Faces Down". Then I saw Sondre with his band, The Faces Down, in concert in Chicago (and met him). He is a very sweet guy and seemed to take it very well when I told him how I loved his first album but didnt mention the one he was touring for. He played all my favorite songs from Faces Down and I still loved the rest of his set. He and his band are very talented guys and so fun to watch and listen to. I just had to listen to "Two Way Monologue" after that and now I cant switch this CD out of my player! Most of the songs kind of sneak up on you; you don't realize how great they are at first but then you catch yourself singing them all day long. "On the Tower" is especially enchanting, as well as my very favorite, "Wet Ground". Sondre seems to be channeling an old jazz singer with his vocals and the instrumentation is amazing as always.
I came upon Sondre Lerche's music in a roundabout way: he toured with Ed Harcourt last year, whose album I bought because I thought he sounded like Rufus Wainwright with an edge when Ed opened for R.E.M. last September. All of these artists share an amazing talent for songwriting, poetic lyrics and well orchestrated music. You can't help but fall for Sondre Lerche if you enjoy R.E.M., Rufus Wainwright, or Ed Harcourt. And if you liked "Faces Down" you will love "Two Way Monologue".

Needless to say, being from Norway, I am along with the rest of the Norwegian population, incredibly proud to call Sondre Lerche our own. His voice is absolutely captivating and his songs imprint themselves in your brain forever. I went to his concert in Trondheim last August, and the only thing I can say about his performance is that it was hands down brilliant! There's no doubt in my mind that we will be hearing a lot more from this young man for many years to come.

If you like catchy, dreamy, romantic pop music, then you will love Sondre Lerche. I won't bother to try to analyze or describe the songs; you just have to experience them for yourself. It's kind of Beatles meets Burt Bacharach meets Badly Drawn Boy meets Rufus Wainwright. Anyway, intelligent pop enthusiasts will love it. I haven't taken it out of my CD Walkman since I bought it and the songs are stuck in my mind- in a good way. It's the soundtrack to a perfect, romantic day.

My genius sister turned me on to this genius of sound and I can't stop listening. I feel like dancing through the entire disc. Pure enjoyment on every track. Especially love "On the Tower", "Days that Are Over", "Counter Spark", "It's Too Late", "Stupid Memory" and the beautiful "Maybe Your Gone."

This is my personal favorite album of this year. I was lucky enough to catch him on his very limited US tour and even got to meet him and have him autograph my copy of his first album "Faces Down." He is as elegant and well spoken in person as in any recording. He is a one man force from Norway who is slowly gaining a US audience. His music is engaging, empowering, insightful and full of youthful zeal. "Faces Down" and "Don't Be Shallow" met with well deserved critcal acclaim and so has "Two Way Monolouge." You will find "Two Way Monolouge" filled with infectious, life affirming songs that will stick with you like a good breafast. Lerche weaves his songs from catchy Beatle-like melodies to sophisticated sounds like Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello into his own notable and worthy voice.
If you don't have "Monolouge" yet I implore you get going and buy it. He's here to stay. Thank God!

ever since i heard about sondre lerche a few months ago, i've loved listening to his songs over and over again. Both of his two full-length albums were amazing and i was really suprised. "Track you Down", "On the tower", "Two Way Monologue", and "Days that are over" are all incredible songs, and i recommend going to see him live, because he's great performing too, not to mention funny...but that's beside the point. So, he has catchy but mellow rock songs that you will never get sick of.

A melodic feast...give it several listens, though...the best music takes a little longer to sink in. Beautiful, beautiful