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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best CDs of 2005!, November 1, 2005
I admit that I bought this album because I was intrigued with the name of the group. Well, sometimes you get lucky. I listened to this CD and was blown away! I was captured right from the start when the first piano chords on "Shades of Grey" created a desolate feeling, building up to a dynamic crescendo of minor seventh chords and harmonies that would blow the socks off of anything that the "so called BOY GROUPS" of the late nineties could ever perform. The song winds back down and ends with the same hopeless feeling that it began with. From there, you are taken to an upbeat POP-Rock song that once again features a driving piano and second to none harmonies. The third song which is one of the catchiest tunes, "Rumors", follows the same formula with swelling harmonies and powerful piano chords mixing in with guitar. My three teenage kids, chose this song to be their favorite song on the CD. I won't go on about each and every song, but there are several other songs that I could listen to a thousand times and never get tired of. If you like MAE, THIS DAY AND AGE, or SOMETHING CORPORATE, you should fall in love with the sound of this CD. I guess Piano-driven, Power POP, with rich harmonies would be the best way to describe this disc. I'm amazed that Waking Ashland hasn't received more attention. I noticed one reviewer that really hammered the lyrics in this CD, well, Being a musician, I'm not one to pay close attention to what is being said. I mainly listen to sound quality and instrumentation. I guess it boils down to everyones' different tastes. As far as great sound and catchy pop melodies, there are very few other groups that capture the full sound of Waking Ashland! I heavily recommend this disc!!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing flashy, just great music, August 19, 2005
Waking Ashland's debut album is proof. Proof that you don't need to be virtuosos to make great music. Proof that simple chord progressions and the classic verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure is effective when done well. Proof that you don't need layers upon layers of synthetic overproduction for something to sound good.
Unlike other bands that simply throw in classical instruments to make it sound 'artistic' or 'classical' or whatever, Waking Ashland is centered around the piano, with the others built around it. The result is solid, controlled, chord-based songs, and layered on top of that is some great singing and vocal harmonies, with guitar, bass and drums filling out the sound.
Whether it's the energetic songs such as "I Am For You", "Overjoyed" and "Longshot", the more laid back "Same Problem" or "October Skies", or the ballads "Hands on Deck" and "Sing Me To Sleep", you are guaranteed music that is well-crafted, catchy and honest.
I agree with Brendan Trimboli, for fans of Mae, This Day & Age, and other light rock bands, Waking Ashland is a perfect fit. Or for anyone looking for some relief from their diet of emocore/pop-punk/post-hardcore bands (as I am), Waking Ashland is a welcome contrast.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great CD, May 23, 2005
this is a great cd by waking ashland. i didnt even know who they where until i looked at purevolume.com
1-Shades of Grey- 4/5 good opener Good song. pretty slow, good vocals
2-i am for you- 5/5 great song. great intro, good guitar playing, great vocals
3-rumors-5/5 third best song on the cd great piano playing, vocals great
4-edinger-5/5 second best song on the cd. if they have a single ever this will be the song
5-october skies 5/5 best song on the cd, again great piano playing, great guitar, amazing vocals
6-Let go- 4.5/5 overall good song. catchy tune
7-Hands on deck- 5/5 great vocals, great piano playing
8-long shot-5/5 great guitar playing, great vocals
9-silhouettes-5/5 catchy tune, great vocals and words
10-same problem-5/5 great song, slow intro catchy song
11-medication- 4/5 probably the worse song on the cd. its not even that bad just didnt get into this one
12-overjoyed- 4.5/5 slow intro, great vocals
13-sing me to sleep-5/5 great piano playing. great ending to an amazing cd
i can't believe no one has heard of these guys.
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is Waking Ashland's 
