February Son

Oleander

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B00000I5M6
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,550 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Oleander take their name from a highly poisonous shrub. A spin of February Son makes one wonder why they didn't decide on a more straightforward name like The Bastard Sons of Alice in Chains. The opening cut "Why I'm Here" is a wholesale clearance on grunge staples: the subdued verses, the Stone Temple Pilots vocals gaining speed as the chorus, wavelike, rises and crashes on the same ears that grew bored with this sound years before. At times the boys in the band stretch in a more interesting poplike direction, but not enough to reach into that part of the brain that remembers strikingly good music. --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard and positive, June 12, 2001

By	Brian W. Fullford (Jacksonville, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a novel idea. Make something viable to those who like music loud, hard and fast (not thrashy) but something positive in the lyrics. Can't be done via a non-christian\secular band you say: then pick up this bit of notes, chords, and lyrics. To put it simply, this band knows how to step it up a notch. This Cd has an edgy pop feel to it. Good hooks, great arrangements and mixing. Shrinking Blob, Where Were You Then, Lost Cause, Stupid, and especially You'll Find Out are very much in your face anthemic type rock songs. They don't come at you with guns blazing, but rather change tempo, allow you to catch your breath and then get pushed back into the grove where you roller coaster your way to the next track. There is also the radio friendly Why I'm Here (a great song even after a hundred listens) and How Could I?. Wonderful Cure cover, Boys Don't Cry. It doesn't move far from the original but does add an nice hard rock sound as opposed to a poppy goth sound. What sets this band apart are the lyrics. You'll Find Out, with lyrics aluding to addiction of some sort, that you can pull yourself out of, Down When I'm Loaded "It's the sound of super sad. It's the kinds shi* that makes me angry. your bad, your wasting your time on irresponsibility", and Never Again "cause I've been there. never again, never again will I allow myself to drown".

I read the editorial review by Jason Joseph and I couldn't disagree with him more. True the first I heard of Oleander was that they were the "new Nirvana" and they do bring across a feeling in thier lyrics that demands thought and not just head banging or knocking around the mosh pit. They are more commercially viable than Alice in Chains but the "Stone Temple Pilots element" is what makes the music worth the listen. This is a good band that carries the grunge name and not some of the new dispose all garbage we are getting from Saliva or every new Korn wannabe.

Mind you, this is your basic power chord music but do yourself a favor and trade your hard earned cash for this CD. You'll be banging the steering wheel as you drive through traffic or across the country side. This is a definite 5 star cd for the genre it fits into as well as for production value and content.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Rock music has returned!, April 7, 2000

By	Zepplyn "music fanatic" (Rushville, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This is one of the best music purchases I have made since the mid 90s. Upon first hearing "I Walk Alone" on the radio, I actually though it was Candlebox. After hearing the entire album, I must say these guys are better than Candlebox, a little more upbeat and poppier while still retaining that hard edge. Every song is a gem, from the opening cruncher "You'll Find Out" through the emotional closer "Never Again". Along the way you'll enjoy many instant classics such as the current hit "Stupid", the quiet verses to raging storm chorus of "Why I'm Here" (which reminds me of Alice in Chain's more melodic side), the anthemic "Down When I'm Loaded" and the killer version of the Cure's classic "Boy's Don't Cry" (which, IMHO, out classes the original). If you like Candlebox or Collective Soul, you won't want to miss this album. Now if I can just find their indie debut Shrinking the Blob (from which can be found earlier versions of most the songs on February Son).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Debut hit!, January 31, 2000

By	Mike (PA) - See all my reviews

I got this CD for Christmas after hearing the songs I Walk Alone and Why I'm Here. I didn't know if I'd like the rest of the album. My fear was put to rest when I listened to the entire CD. All of their songs are great, especially their Cure cover for Boys Don't Cry and How Could I? If you like Our Lady Peace or Better Than Ezra, I encourage you to pick up February Son by Oleander!