Customer Reviews

Vol. II

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As the first modern rock band in a long time to refuse adhering to any formulas, Hurt made quite an impression with last year's "Vol. I.," only to follow it up rather swiftly and efficiently with the appropriately titled "Vol. II." Those who appreciated the first volume will be equally enthused by what the band has to offer the second time around. Without changing their sound much, while avoiding predictability, Hurt have shown that a band actually can grow in a year's time and put out a worthy release in such a short period. Fans of the band's semi-hit, "Rapture" will find the album's first single "Ten Ton Brick," along with "Et Al" and "Loded" to be instantly pleasing to the ears. Elsewhere, the band expands on it's abstract, somewhat-spacey, emotionally heavy material. "Abuse Of Sid" takes a topic -- domestic abuse -- that has been beat into the ground by countless bands, and finally does it justice, coming through as one of the boldest songs on the album. "Aftermath," one of the briefer of the album's 12 tracks, highlights frontman J. Loren's amazing vocal capacity and genuine emotion, while the band continues to dip into some trippy, classic-rock/Pink Floyd inspired pieces. "Talking To God," however, tops the rest of the album, as it rises and falls, from a whisper to a scream and shows all the band can do, wrapped into one song. Like the rest of Hurt's material, it's a song that starts off in one direction and ends in a totally different place. Constantly throwing curveballs and reinventing modern rock is Hurt's specialty. If Hurt are the next band to concur the rock world, an album like this is exactly what they need to accomplish that. "Vol. II" is, like it's predecessor, a masterpiece. Anyone familiar with the band by now will not walk away disappointed, and those looking for something refreshing and new will do themselves a bit of good to look into this album.

This album seems darker than their first, it is also a little harder. The songs seem to follow even less of a standard format when compared to Volume 1. There also seems to be a little more orchestra background. This album basically is volume 1 squared. I have only listened to it once so far but I do believe that this album will grow on me as the first one did. I LOVED the first album, and this follows the same unconventional style which is what separates Hurt from other rock bands. Try this album out!!!!

Just as Vol. I leaves us with the sound of rain drops pattering the ground, Vol. II picks up in Summers Lost, with the ambient sound of the rain returning. If you were to listen to Vol. I and Vol. II in a continuous listening session, it's doubtful that you would ever notice that Vol. I ended and Vol. II started.

Vol. II is harder and darker than Vol. I, but with every hard piece, there is a gentle piece to go along with it for those people who don't like to here J. Loren scream.

It's difficult to sum up the album in one or two words, other than saying "it's phenomenal" or "it's beautiful". Instead of falling into the trap, Hurt was able to innovate once again with a new and unique sound for each and every song. When listening to the album, I wasn't saying to myself that 'this sounds like Rapture' or 'this is exactly like Falls Apart'.

The only negative thing I have to say about this album is that the older songs on the album, ones that appeared on The Consumation, lack the same emotion that their Consumation counterparts were filled with.

Other than that, Vol. II, like Vol. I, creates a nice neutral zone between mainstream and underground. Their songs are catchy enough to get radio play, but they don't sound like all of the songs preceding it.

Didn't think it was possible to top Volume one, but Volume two is a better defined progression from this hard working band's debut. Vol. II picks up literally where Vol.I left off, if you play the two cds after each other they match perfectly, and then takes you on a sonic trip that few bands have even attempted to undertake, especially bands with a sharp edge. If you liked Vol. I, this cd is a must have... If you like epic, intense music played with skill and commitment, this CD is a must have... If you like dense, intelligent well thought out songs, this cd is a must have... If you like a bit of mystery, lyrics that present a challenge to decypher and emotional performances that have been actually lived through by the performers, the this cd is a must have... Best CD of 07, easily.

That is how this album plays itself out. It is mellow and melodious with beautiful soundscapes that you can get lost in. Beautiful, organic music... Only with a twist. Right as you find yourself falling into relaxation on that beach, you get pelted in the face with the biggest, most aggressive wave you have ever seen. It turns from beautiful and melodious, to dark and dissonant at the drop of a dime, and then just as quickly... It turns back into that beautiful, relaxing Summer day at the beach.

It does this a few times until the most powerful moment on the album, which happens during the breakdown in the final track.

This may be the best album I have heard in a very long time, in fact, it IS.

If you like hard rock, alternative, adult-contemporary, soft rock, acoustic, progressive, or even like a slight taste of metal... This album is in your palate.

This is one band you just simply can not lump into a single genre. They are all of that and more. This band is truly revolutionary in the way they approach music. Do yourself, and the music industry, a favor. Give this band a listen... You will NOT be disappointed!

A year and a half since their first release, we are once again upon Hurt. The album starts off right where the first left off with the familiar raindrops, plunging right into a personal favorite; Summers Lost. As with the last album, each song is more than exceptional in its own right. As such, I wont review each song individually, suffice to say on a scale of one to ten, each song is a very solid 9+ depending on which; each, upon delving deeper, tell a brilliantly written, fantastic story.

Overall, I believe the album deserves at the very least a 9.5 (rounding up to 5/5 stars). I dare say this is one of the best albums I have had the pleasure of purchasing/listening too, and from the previous album, I had very, very high expectations. I'm not going to say you don't hear music like this anymore, for I am not of age to lay claim to the "brilliance of of oldies," though in retrospect to modern music, or my generation, you don't hear music like this period.

As my title suggests, counter to popular opinion, I find this effort to be slightly more mellow, and perhaps more personally written than Volume 1. Despite my feelings on the subject, I suppose if you had to pick a downside to the album, that would be it. Though I don't, and actually may prefer the familiar yet not significantly more mellow sound (I listen to a lot of very hard rock). As such, I by no means see it as a glaring, or any other wise labeled defect. Any shortcomings? I think not.

If you're contemplating purchasing the new Hurt, do yourself a favor and do so. If you even marginally appreciated the first effort, you wont be disappointed.

~On a side note, if you ever have the chance to see these gents live, it's not to be missed.

This album is every bit as good as volume I, but with more peaks and valleys in the volume and intensity categories. When I first bought Volume I, I enjoyed the change of pace from the more "radio friendly" hard rock. The quick volume drops and innate fragility of the quiet passages mixed with the bludgening riffs and drums on volume I are again represented here on volume II. This album rocks and takes you for a ride with the brilliant poetic use of language by J. Loren Wince. His lyrics are both cryptic and intelligent in a manner that is reminiscent of Maynard from tool, with the introspectiveness of a broken soul. The drumming on this album caries the pulse and pushes the heavier passages further into "tool" territory without compromising the unique sound that is Hurt. The guitar work on this album well above their last effort, they even included a few solo's. The use of string instruments and the tasteful use of instruments more traditionally fount in bluegrass on Alone with the Sea really add a dimension you do not find in modern hard rock.
Individual track ratings
1. Summers Lost 10/10 (picks up where volume I left off)
2. Ten Ton Brick 10/10 (heavy throughout will not disappoint that fan base)
3. Aftermath 9/10 (first real change of pace on the album not a let down but just not as good as some of the other songs on the album)
4. Abuse Of Sid 10/10 (another soft starter with a cool guitar intro, it picks up in volume and intensity and really rocks when it is necessary
5. Alone With the Sea 10/10 (unique use of instrumentation very haunting
6. Talking To God 10/10 (very catchy "chorus" how can you talk to god if you won't talk to me)
7. Loded 10/10 (heavy starter, listen to the vocal delivery in the beginning unique for J. then it goes into traditional Hurt territory)
8. Better 9/10 (begins with processed drums build up, a solid song, sounds like it would fit really well on Volume I as well as this album)
9. Assurance 10/10 (Very soft and delicate Fits well into the album)
10. On the Radio 9/10 (Unique fiddle solo at the end, well unique for hard rock, very solid song)
11. Et Al 9/10 (A rerecording of a song they had released ealier, It's a great song to begin the ending of the album with)
12. Thank You For Listening 10/10 (A solid ending to a great listening experience)

I cannot wait to hear whats next from this band.

In my opinion, music today faces a drought of innovation and individuality which is firmly entrenched within the aural message - both in the melody and the quality of the lyrics. Hurt is a brilliant band, as not only does it create a solid rock album, but treats its listeners with lyrics which are thought-provoking through its deep messages within beautifully crafted stories. I believe that it is the story-telling role Hurt takes as a band that underpins its success. Like its first album Vol 1, Hurt continues to create elaborate and wonderous stories within each song whilst spoiling us with classical strings, chords and acoustics within even the heaviest songs on the album. Come on, how many bands can say they do the same?

Variety, which is always something wonderful to find in a band even so early in its career, returns in this albumn. The album initiates from the end of 'House Carpenter' in the first - which has already been picked up. Hurt itself has pointed out it is House Carpenter backwards, and this is very easily heard from its onset. If you loved the first album this is the best start you simply could have hoped for. The lyrics are just as haunting as those in House Carpenter at its close. Following this is 'Ten Ton Brick', the album's single, which while not a clear favourite of mine does for this albumn what Rapture did for the first. In no way am I saying they sound the same, or share those kind of similarities. It is strong, agressive but continually varies it pace into quieter bridges and chorus before ramping back up into its harder rock overtones.

After the strong end of Ten Ton Brick it immediately ensues with 'Aftermath' which initiates with the last chord of Ten Ton Brick and gently ebbs back into a slower pace, a wonderful contrast with slower piano and acoustic guitat very easy to appreciately in the contrast to the harsher chords of the song before. Once more Hurt doesn't create an album, but as with initated with the overtones of House Carpenter within Summer Lost, links all its songs together both thematically and musically. The next song, 'Abuse of SID' is another one of the heavier songs on the album, which is an powerfully emotionally monologue on physical and emotional manipulation of a weaker person by a stronger from the perspective of an onlooker. The song is mellowed through the use of quiet, backing singing though easily builds up to its powerful refrain at the end, back to the bridge and then to the closing. For anyone who has ever been in an unequal relationship, the lyrics will probably strike you as exceptionally powerful. They are thought-provoking, though their message is clearly accessible.

The next song is my clear favourite, "Alone with the Sea", and some have suggested that, like Ten Ton Brick is 'Rapture', this song is this albumn's 'Danse Russe'. When I originally listened to the album, quietly in the background, it was this song that stopped me dead in my trap. It is haunting, it is eerie musically, and when this engenders your further attention, the lyrics are much the same and only heighten this effect. If you love a beautifully created acoustic song, this will reduce you to tears: 'There's no more beauty in this world / because I've strangely become immune, to the thought of seeing you'. I'm so incredibly fond of this song, I'm gonna let it have its own paragraph.

The next song is a brilliant comment. While people might mistake it, and the lyrics of Rapture, as an anti-religious message they couldn't be any more mistaken! Hurt provides deeply critical messages against the misuse and manipulation of religion of individuals "How can you talk to God / when you won't talk to me?". A brilliant comment, not unlike "Judas" by APC. The song after 'Loded' is heavier, though is mellowed by clever use of strings and other classical instruments. It takes a few listens, as at the first impression it is swallowed by other songs stronger from their initial listen. After a few times, you should be able to recognise it at the same level. 'Better' follows, taking the audience on a wild ride from its slow beginings to its hard end - but don't forget to read its poignant lyrics.

Assurance - absolutely beautiful love song. Touches the romantic bit of my every time. Beautiful acoustic - piano, strings, tambourine - a perfect combination. All the little things we love and remember in relatioships are encapsulated in the lyrics without it sounding over the top and unrealistic. The last few songs, which I probably also need to listen to better finish off the album with strength, with Et al recreating the strong rock sound of the band. I am sorry to rush through them, but I do have to dash. I hope I have helped.

In closing:

Strong, thought-provoking lyrics, beautiful stories, realism, brilliant music and wonderful classic instruments and all the hallmarks of rock. Its like being exposed to alittle bit of high culture every listen.

RECOMMEND!!!!!!!

I am essentially no "review" boffin, so I won't attempt to forsenically disect what I'm hearing. I am however absolutely certain that, should this band remain in one piece for long enough, they will endure in music history. With Vol II they present more innovation, more variation, more maturity, just plain more amazing, groundbreaking sound! As a fellow reviewer said, unmistakably a continuation of Vol I. Every piece is bursting with sonic nouvelle, haunting lyrics and song construction which boast enticingly varied rhythm and pace. I am frankly surprised, very surprised, that although essentially esoteric, their musical brilliance has not found a broader fan-base. As I said when I wrote a few lines about vol I; where to from here? Here is the quintissential cutting edge, the avant-garde of alternative rock. I wish this group of brilliant musicians every success, may they leave an indelible footprint in music to the extent that they become, quite deservedly a yardstick by which others will be measured! Miss these two albums at your own peril!

J. Loren and crew have definitely come out of their shell with the release of their sophomore record "Volume II." What exactly makes it better than Volume I? Well, how about much tighter sound, better controlled atmosphere, and maturity?

The sound of Vol 2 is just plain good, in a hit-or-miss kind of way. I believe people are mislead by "Ten Ton Brick" and assume that the rest of the album is going to sound exactly like it, which it does not. Most of the songs are not as hard instrumentally as TTB but are definitely as good. You just have to have an open mind to music. Actually listen to the music while you listen to the singer. The lyrics are dark, yes, the music perhaps darker. This is not your dad's 80's metal.

There are a couple songs worth noting that may appeal to the fans of Brick though, including "Summers Lost," and "Talking To God" for instance. Summers Lost starts slowly and mysteriously if you will, but eventually escalates into a blaze of vocal glory and uplifting (or perhaps depressing?) guitar work. Talking To God is, as I note later, a pseudo-sequel to a Volume I song. I find this song to be one of the better ones on Volume II. Loren's lyrics leave much to be interpreted here..."how can you talk to God when you won't talk to me?" The initial drum beat towards the beginning of the song compliment it well before it launches into what feels like an insulted tone.

Overall the experience is one worth listening through at least once, so long as you don't dive headlong into it expecting consistent double bass drums or screaming guitars. The matured sound of Hurt is apparent here, and it will be interesting to see if they can maintain their maturity and perhaps even nail that 5-star record on the next run through the studio.

*Side Note* For anyone considering purchasing Volume II who have not listened to Volume I, I highly recommend you listen to Volume I first, despite how much of an improvement V2 is. Volume II contains no less than 4 tracks that have to do with the continuation of the "story" from Volume I, and even very obvious sounds/references to Volume I (listen to the intro to "Talking To God" from Volume II and you'll recognize the notes from a Volume I song).