Rich Duncan
04/10/07, 09:12 PM
Waking Ashland - The Well
Record Label - Immortal Records
Release Date - April 17, 2007
I have been lucky enough to follow the career of Waking Ashland from the very beginning when they were still being talked about as one of the best unsigned bands on many music sites, including this one. I also remember the band’s success when they were selling their self-released EP hand over fist, selling out their initial pressing of 1,000 in a month and their inclusion in Alternative Press’ “100 Bands To Watch” feature in 2005. It has been incredible to watch the band grow and achieve more success with each release. I was quite excited to listen to the Absolute Exclusive of “Your Intentions” when it was first posted and I soon found myself listening to that song many times a day.
I expected instantly accessible songs like “Your Intentions” to dominate the album from start to finish, but I was instantly proven wrong with “Salt Lake Jam” which places more emphasis on the “rock” than the “piano” in the term piano rock. The style change disappointed me at first, but I slowly warmed up to it. Singer/keyboardist Jonathan Jones has an instantly accessible voice that is silky smooth and serves as the perfect counterbalance to the foot-stomping rock that dominates “Salt Lake Jam”. Guitarist Ryan Lallier’s classic rock inspired solos add a well-welcomed flair. “Your Intentions” captures a live spark of energy that seems to be missing from the opening tracks and has a little more intensity behind it. “Your Intentions” is one of the more engaging tracks on the album with its punching guitar melodies and a chorus that is so infectious, you will find yourself singing along with gusto after only a few listens.
“Diamonds On The Hillside” is a more laidback track but still features the same underlying sunny pop melodies strewn through the disc and focuses more attention on the piano than some of the other tracks. While the album does retain the band’s pop sensibility, the slower more experimental tracks such as “Diamonds On The Hillside” tend to fall flat and leave relatively no lasting impression. “Change” marks the perfect balance between the bands slower side and their flair for hook laden guitar-driven songs and serves as an excellent picker upper following the relatively tame “Diamonds On The Hillside”. The song sounds a lot sleeker than the other tracks on the album, and with “Your Intentions”, is one of the albums “single worthy” tracks.
Jones turns in another excellent vocal performance on “Mark Like Mine”, which is another stellar track on the album and finds the band utilizing their slower side without getting too boring. While most of The Well finds the piano taking the backseat to the other instruments, “Mark Like Mine” finds it being brought to the forefront. This song tugs on the heartstrings quite well and could easily be used in place of many cliché selections as the last dance to senior proms across the country or used in a well-constructed mix-tape for those who do not partake in prom. “Let It Ring” and “Looking Alive” abandon the sunny and warm pop sounds found in the beginning of the album and instead focus on a more streamlined rock sound. However, the band returns to their bubbly pop roots on “Money”, a song that details the negative effect money can have on artists and performers while also lashing out at the watered down state of entertainment.
Upon initial listen, I felt The Well was a lackluster release and was mildly let down. However, with each additional listen the album slowly grew on me until I could not keep it out of my stereo and walkman. There are some inconsistencies, especially in the lyrical department, but The Well is a solid springtime release that will be sure to see many spins from diehard Waking Ashland fans. However, for the casual fan or even some of the diehard fans, the stylistic change will not go over well and may turn some listeners off to the release. This album is a grower, and I recommend giving it a few spins before deciding whether or not Waking Ashland’s style change was for better or worse.
“Your Intentions", “Change”, and “Mark Like Mine” Website (http://www.wakingashland.com/?) | AP Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?l=2501&catid=searchresults&searchid=1444172) | Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/wakingashland)
Record Label - Immortal Records
Release Date - April 17, 2007
I have been lucky enough to follow the career of Waking Ashland from the very beginning when they were still being talked about as one of the best unsigned bands on many music sites, including this one. I also remember the band’s success when they were selling their self-released EP hand over fist, selling out their initial pressing of 1,000 in a month and their inclusion in Alternative Press’ “100 Bands To Watch” feature in 2005. It has been incredible to watch the band grow and achieve more success with each release. I was quite excited to listen to the Absolute Exclusive of “Your Intentions” when it was first posted and I soon found myself listening to that song many times a day.
I expected instantly accessible songs like “Your Intentions” to dominate the album from start to finish, but I was instantly proven wrong with “Salt Lake Jam” which places more emphasis on the “rock” than the “piano” in the term piano rock. The style change disappointed me at first, but I slowly warmed up to it. Singer/keyboardist Jonathan Jones has an instantly accessible voice that is silky smooth and serves as the perfect counterbalance to the foot-stomping rock that dominates “Salt Lake Jam”. Guitarist Ryan Lallier’s classic rock inspired solos add a well-welcomed flair. “Your Intentions” captures a live spark of energy that seems to be missing from the opening tracks and has a little more intensity behind it. “Your Intentions” is one of the more engaging tracks on the album with its punching guitar melodies and a chorus that is so infectious, you will find yourself singing along with gusto after only a few listens.
“Diamonds On The Hillside” is a more laidback track but still features the same underlying sunny pop melodies strewn through the disc and focuses more attention on the piano than some of the other tracks. While the album does retain the band’s pop sensibility, the slower more experimental tracks such as “Diamonds On The Hillside” tend to fall flat and leave relatively no lasting impression. “Change” marks the perfect balance between the bands slower side and their flair for hook laden guitar-driven songs and serves as an excellent picker upper following the relatively tame “Diamonds On The Hillside”. The song sounds a lot sleeker than the other tracks on the album, and with “Your Intentions”, is one of the albums “single worthy” tracks.
Jones turns in another excellent vocal performance on “Mark Like Mine”, which is another stellar track on the album and finds the band utilizing their slower side without getting too boring. While most of The Well finds the piano taking the backseat to the other instruments, “Mark Like Mine” finds it being brought to the forefront. This song tugs on the heartstrings quite well and could easily be used in place of many cliché selections as the last dance to senior proms across the country or used in a well-constructed mix-tape for those who do not partake in prom. “Let It Ring” and “Looking Alive” abandon the sunny and warm pop sounds found in the beginning of the album and instead focus on a more streamlined rock sound. However, the band returns to their bubbly pop roots on “Money”, a song that details the negative effect money can have on artists and performers while also lashing out at the watered down state of entertainment.
Upon initial listen, I felt The Well was a lackluster release and was mildly let down. However, with each additional listen the album slowly grew on me until I could not keep it out of my stereo and walkman. There are some inconsistencies, especially in the lyrical department, but The Well is a solid springtime release that will be sure to see many spins from diehard Waking Ashland fans. However, for the casual fan or even some of the diehard fans, the stylistic change will not go over well and may turn some listeners off to the release. This album is a grower, and I recommend giving it a few spins before deciding whether or not Waking Ashland’s style change was for better or worse.
“Your Intentions", “Change”, and “Mark Like Mine” Website (http://www.wakingashland.com/?) | AP Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?l=2501&catid=searchresults&searchid=1444172) | Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/wakingashland)