Customer Reviews

Urgency

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

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.

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.