hailthewarrior
05/06/08, 01:23 PM
The Forms - The Forms
Record Label: Threespheres / The Rebel Group
Release Date: October 23, 2007
When this album began, I truly didn’t know what to expect. The piano intro to the first song, “Knowledge in Hand,” caught my attention and took me for a 30 minute drive that brought me some listening pleasure but left a lot to be desired.
Upon first glance, all but the last three songs on the album were under the three minute mark, and this brevity really shows when the majority of the songs seemingly don’t have an ending. They just fade out, taking some stellar tracks and cutting them way short (see: “Focus” and “Bones” as examples). However, the music across the board is very well crafted indie pop/rock, even if it is cut short before reaching its utmost potential.
The vocal work of The Forms’ front man, Alex Tween, sometimes is emoting at an emphasis, reminiscent of Chris Cornell’s Soundgarden days. Though sometimes incoherent (for example, in the lead song, the chorus could be mistaken for “with a lynching ham” instead of “with the knowledge in hand”), his voice drops to barely intelligible whispers that fit the music perfectly. But Tween is at his best when he’s just singing, which reminds me most of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”
Because of the differences in vocals and how they are worked melodically together, the lyrics leave a lot to be desired, simply for lack of understanding and pronunciation. But disregarding the lack of clarity, the vocals fit the music perfectly and seem to rise and fall according to the rhythms laid down. And the differing styles, when layered, produce a sonically pleasing concoction.
Overall, The Forms hints at what could be, but leaves a lot to be desired. With glimpses of beautiful songwriting mixed in with lackluster lyrics and indiscernible vocals, The Forms are one step away from stepping into their own.
self-described relation to: Battles, The National, Deerhoof, The Hold Steady
myspace.com/forms (http://www.myspace.com/forms)
Record Label: Threespheres / The Rebel Group
Release Date: October 23, 2007
When this album began, I truly didn’t know what to expect. The piano intro to the first song, “Knowledge in Hand,” caught my attention and took me for a 30 minute drive that brought me some listening pleasure but left a lot to be desired.
Upon first glance, all but the last three songs on the album were under the three minute mark, and this brevity really shows when the majority of the songs seemingly don’t have an ending. They just fade out, taking some stellar tracks and cutting them way short (see: “Focus” and “Bones” as examples). However, the music across the board is very well crafted indie pop/rock, even if it is cut short before reaching its utmost potential.
The vocal work of The Forms’ front man, Alex Tween, sometimes is emoting at an emphasis, reminiscent of Chris Cornell’s Soundgarden days. Though sometimes incoherent (for example, in the lead song, the chorus could be mistaken for “with a lynching ham” instead of “with the knowledge in hand”), his voice drops to barely intelligible whispers that fit the music perfectly. But Tween is at his best when he’s just singing, which reminds me most of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”
Because of the differences in vocals and how they are worked melodically together, the lyrics leave a lot to be desired, simply for lack of understanding and pronunciation. But disregarding the lack of clarity, the vocals fit the music perfectly and seem to rise and fall according to the rhythms laid down. And the differing styles, when layered, produce a sonically pleasing concoction.
Overall, The Forms hints at what could be, but leaves a lot to be desired. With glimpses of beautiful songwriting mixed in with lackluster lyrics and indiscernible vocals, The Forms are one step away from stepping into their own.
self-described relation to: Battles, The National, Deerhoof, The Hold Steady
myspace.com/forms (http://www.myspace.com/forms)