Gregory Robson
07/23/08, 11:59 AM
The Long Tomorrow - What I Don’t Deserve
Record Label: Ugg Records
Release Date: February 27, 2007
What I Don’t Deserve is the four-song EP by Atlanta, GA band The Long Tomorrow. Comprised of founding member/songwriter/musician extraordinaire Rich Gunderlock and soulful vocalist Tripp Prince, the 18-minute disc is a perfectly executed exercise in sensitive, mood rock. Bearing heavy similarities to Gracer’s 2005 album Voices Travel, the album opens up with the mid-tempo churn of the orchestral “Don’t Look Back,” which dips a hand into the waters of Copeland and Texas’ Pompeii.
Referencing the dashboard and the highway, “Don’t Look Back,” is indeed a driving song about - you guessed it - sticking to your convictions. It’s gorgeous, ethereal and wholly stirring, even if the guitar solos come up a bit light. Prince’s vocals are the focal point here as he emotes and intones in a way that’s charismatic, compelling and entirely captivating. “Layover Lullaby” is a thick, syrupy ballad in which Prince sings of being away from his girlfriend. Sure, it’s saccharine, but it’s also earnest, heartfelt and melodic. While this topic has been done before, most assuredly with more profound lyrics, the music on this one, oh man, is it ever pretty.
An acoustic guitar signals the beginning of “Waiting (Shades of Death),” another entirely catchy, highly-memorable mid-tempo offering that moves along like the previous two, but manages to separate itself into Coldplay-esque territory. Prince’s vocals sound the best on this one and it’s definitely a song that bears repeat listens. The album’ closer is the piano-based “Thank You,” a spiritual song, in which Gunderlock and Prince offer their gratitude for life’s blessings. The album’s title is derived from the line, “Thank you for giving me ... what I don’t deserve.”
Credit goes to producer Steve Cook and mixer Justin Cortelyou for putting together an album that’s equal parts comfortable, lush and uplifting. If this is just the debut, then Gunderlock and Prince have the strength to put together a full-length that will turn some heads and bring in throngs of new fans. The sky is the limit and success is imminent, even if the band still believes, they don’t deserve any of it.
Copeland, Pompeii, Coldplay, mood rock
myspace.com/thelongtomorrow (http://www.myspace.com/thelongtomorrow)
Record Label: Ugg Records
Release Date: February 27, 2007
What I Don’t Deserve is the four-song EP by Atlanta, GA band The Long Tomorrow. Comprised of founding member/songwriter/musician extraordinaire Rich Gunderlock and soulful vocalist Tripp Prince, the 18-minute disc is a perfectly executed exercise in sensitive, mood rock. Bearing heavy similarities to Gracer’s 2005 album Voices Travel, the album opens up with the mid-tempo churn of the orchestral “Don’t Look Back,” which dips a hand into the waters of Copeland and Texas’ Pompeii.
Referencing the dashboard and the highway, “Don’t Look Back,” is indeed a driving song about - you guessed it - sticking to your convictions. It’s gorgeous, ethereal and wholly stirring, even if the guitar solos come up a bit light. Prince’s vocals are the focal point here as he emotes and intones in a way that’s charismatic, compelling and entirely captivating. “Layover Lullaby” is a thick, syrupy ballad in which Prince sings of being away from his girlfriend. Sure, it’s saccharine, but it’s also earnest, heartfelt and melodic. While this topic has been done before, most assuredly with more profound lyrics, the music on this one, oh man, is it ever pretty.
An acoustic guitar signals the beginning of “Waiting (Shades of Death),” another entirely catchy, highly-memorable mid-tempo offering that moves along like the previous two, but manages to separate itself into Coldplay-esque territory. Prince’s vocals sound the best on this one and it’s definitely a song that bears repeat listens. The album’ closer is the piano-based “Thank You,” a spiritual song, in which Gunderlock and Prince offer their gratitude for life’s blessings. The album’s title is derived from the line, “Thank you for giving me ... what I don’t deserve.”
Credit goes to producer Steve Cook and mixer Justin Cortelyou for putting together an album that’s equal parts comfortable, lush and uplifting. If this is just the debut, then Gunderlock and Prince have the strength to put together a full-length that will turn some heads and bring in throngs of new fans. The sky is the limit and success is imminent, even if the band still believes, they don’t deserve any of it.
Copeland, Pompeii, Coldplay, mood rock
myspace.com/thelongtomorrow (http://www.myspace.com/thelongtomorrow)