Scott Weber
11/21/05, 04:39 PM
An Angle – We Can Breathe Under Alcohol
Release Date: May 17, 2005
Record Label: Drive-Thru Records (http://www.drivethrurecords.com)
Yes, he sounds like Bright Eyes. Get over it. Last time I checked, Bright Eyes was a pretty amazing band – since when is it bad to sound like somebody else that is good? Throw away your biases and set aside your jokes – An Angle’s newest release is a very solid release. Earnest lyrics about well, alcohol, politics, and more mixed with Kris’s less-than-perfect delivery (we all know that Conor is not the world’s best singer either) provide an extremely accessible listening experience. The music itself is a combination of acoustic indie and folk rock, with the occasional appearance of horns. Often, fabulous female backing vocals support Kris’s “woe-is-me” style of singing. Fans of all things folk will be able to find something they like in this record, whether it’s the violin-accompanied track “True Love,” or the upbeat alt-country tune “Change the World.” Kris delivers spoken word sometimes, creating an almost haunting effect. It’s a rollercoaster of emotion; the first song is happy and upbeat, while the last song deserves to be sung around a campfire at 2 in the morning. Overall, it’s an enjoyable listen and manages to stand on its own - barely. It’s a good album, but there is definitely something missing. The emotion conveyed from Kris’s voice is great at times, but other times it seems as though he’s trying too hard, and I don’t believe it. It’s important to stay believable when you’re going to write ultra-emotional indie music, and there were times where I didn’t buy it. His voice is wavering at a low volume all the time, and he’s missing the explosions of anger or angst that would make his lyrics hit home a little harder. The vocals just grow monotonous without it. Nonetheless, while often downright boring and repetitive, An Angle is still an enjoyable listen once you leave your biases at the door. Don’t think of An Angle as another Drive-Thru band, don’t think of it as a Bright Eyes ripoff, just view it as music. I mean – I told a friend that this was a long lost Bright Eyes album and she believed me, and loved it. The minute I told her it was An Angle, she instantly hated it. Music is music, people. Give An Angle the chance they deserve.
Release Date: May 17, 2005
Record Label: Drive-Thru Records (http://www.drivethrurecords.com)
Yes, he sounds like Bright Eyes. Get over it. Last time I checked, Bright Eyes was a pretty amazing band – since when is it bad to sound like somebody else that is good? Throw away your biases and set aside your jokes – An Angle’s newest release is a very solid release. Earnest lyrics about well, alcohol, politics, and more mixed with Kris’s less-than-perfect delivery (we all know that Conor is not the world’s best singer either) provide an extremely accessible listening experience. The music itself is a combination of acoustic indie and folk rock, with the occasional appearance of horns. Often, fabulous female backing vocals support Kris’s “woe-is-me” style of singing. Fans of all things folk will be able to find something they like in this record, whether it’s the violin-accompanied track “True Love,” or the upbeat alt-country tune “Change the World.” Kris delivers spoken word sometimes, creating an almost haunting effect. It’s a rollercoaster of emotion; the first song is happy and upbeat, while the last song deserves to be sung around a campfire at 2 in the morning. Overall, it’s an enjoyable listen and manages to stand on its own - barely. It’s a good album, but there is definitely something missing. The emotion conveyed from Kris’s voice is great at times, but other times it seems as though he’s trying too hard, and I don’t believe it. It’s important to stay believable when you’re going to write ultra-emotional indie music, and there were times where I didn’t buy it. His voice is wavering at a low volume all the time, and he’s missing the explosions of anger or angst that would make his lyrics hit home a little harder. The vocals just grow monotonous without it. Nonetheless, while often downright boring and repetitive, An Angle is still an enjoyable listen once you leave your biases at the door. Don’t think of An Angle as another Drive-Thru band, don’t think of it as a Bright Eyes ripoff, just view it as music. I mean – I told a friend that this was a long lost Bright Eyes album and she believed me, and loved it. The minute I told her it was An Angle, she instantly hated it. Music is music, people. Give An Angle the chance they deserve.