Urgency

The Pale Pacific | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 23, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sidecho Records
• ASIN: B000A7Q1R4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,118 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Aging has a way of focusing the mind, especially when long-held expectations go unmet. After 10+ years of laboring in the Seattle music scene and producing a few small-scale releases (2003's Gravity Gets Things Done the best among them), cousins Gabe Archer and Cameron Nicklaus went simple. They underwent a legally-enforced name change (previously, they were just "The Pale"), took their rhythm section and holed up in an island-bound cabin with an eight-track, hoping the physical and technological isolation would result in an epiphany. Despite its lo-fi origins, Urgency is certainly the best they've ever sounded on record, no doubt in part to the mixing talents of Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla. That Pale Pacific sound more than a little like Walla's band is thus perhaps not surprising, but that's too easy a comparison. The record is haunted by a similar intuition, a familiar, bitter sweetness, but it's also guided by larger-than-life melodies (see "If Only She'd Leave Town") that spring more readily, like Matthew Sweet or even Big Star. Archer and Nicklaus linger long in those melodies, whether drowning in reverb (on "The Strangest Second Chance") or melancholy (on the Damien Rice-like closer "Fall To Place"). It's not quite an epiphany, but Urgency is at least hard-won progress. Often that's the best one can hope for. –Matthew Cooke

Product Description

Orcas Island - just off the coast of Seattle. Holed up in a rented house during the fall of 2004, The Pale Pacific focused on recording an entirely new set of material to an analog 8-track tape machine and had the ability to do so without outside distractions — no mail, no cell phone reception and no Internet connection. During their three-week stay, they managed to record 15 songs, some of which ended up on the "Rules Are Predictable" EP. The rest of the session’s cuts were sequenced and placed on the band’s fourth full-length, Urgency. The resulting recordings are raw, uninhibited and offer The Pale Pacific at their most intimate. The band left environmental sounds in — cars driving by, airplanes flying overhead, a dryer or washer that’s left on — which makes the recordings of Urgency that much more honest, at least on a sonic level. With Urgency’s tracking finalized, The Pale Pacific enlisted Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla to mix selected tracks for the album. And if the artwork appears familiar, that’s because The Pale Pacific’s latest features the creative visuals of Grammy award nominated artist Jesse LeDoux (whose work includes album covers for Elliott Smith, Hot Hot Heat and The Shins).

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Walking the line between Album Leaf and Death Cab for Cutie, September 15, 2005

By 

Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Urgency (Audio CD)

I was fortunate to hear "Tied to a Million Things" this morning on the way to work on a local college radio station (WPRK, in case you want to know). I loved The Pale Pacific's sound, so I checked them out. They remind me of Snow Patrol in some songs, though they sound like Death Cab for Cutie most of the time, which is not surprising, considering the participation of Chris Walla, from the legendary Seattle band, in the mixing of three of the songs.

Next thing you know, they throw in a soft electric piano (closing track and "Sucker Punch"), the same type you'd run into in an Album Leaf album. Or a mellow guitar that reminds of Mojave 3/Neil Halstead. Get the picture? These guys are blending in the sounds of the times, whether it's ambient, retro, indie or folk, and the final result is lovely. Highly recommendable band to keep an eye on.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best yet, September 14, 2005

By 

Jennifer Boyer (Spokane, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Urgency (Audio CD)

Having been introduced to the Pale Pacific (back when they were just The Pale) as a freshman at Western Washington University, I've been privileged to see a big part of their development. The personnel has changed a little, the name has changed a little, and they've gotten progressively better. Urgency is one of those CD's you can listen to over and over without getting tired of it, as there is always some new nuance to appreciate. Gabe Archer's voice is strong and sure when it needs to be and feeble and not so sure when it needs to be. The instrumentation is beautiful with "tied to a million things" an especial highlight. There's an energy throughout that surpasses their past albums. Those die a little before the end, Urgency keeps up the energy even if the tempo is slower- you can feel the emotion and pulse within the music, in the personal, yet universal lyrics. And that's about the best any band that puts themselves into their music can hope to do- make their personal experiences speak to others through the music. Urgency does that quite well, with some awesome musical moments and catchy pop hooks to boot.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smooth!, February 12, 2006

By 

J. Lyons "usedwigs" (Philly, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Urgency (Audio CD)

This genre is not my usual cup of tea, in fact I drink coffee, lots of it, but that's not relevant unless you were thinking of sending me a gift. Anyway, this CD creeps up on you in a cozy snuggling manner, like when that massive dose of NyQuil kicks in and you are hazily transported to a very happy and very chill place where all feels fine. By the time "Tied to a Million Things" kicks in, you are awash in a big swirl of My Bloody Valentine orchestration with just enough guitar crunch for emphasis and edge. "Your Parent's House" is the most poppy and accessible and would fit perfectly on an episode of "The O.C." That's not a bust. The show stinks, but they do play some decent tunes (Walking Concert, anyone?) This song is a real beaut, the piano is exquisite and Gabe Archer's vocals are tailored to this type of rollicking ballad. His sensitive guy smooth yet innocent delivery is kind of a throwback; I could picture him fronting one of the bands featured on a John's Hughes soundtrack. Ducky would surely dig. Fans of The Get Up Kids, Matt Pond PA and Death Cab should warmly welcome this slow-build, emotional (not emo) rock into their bulging iPods.