Quick The Word, Sharp The Action

The outset of this album may take fans of the band by surprise. Anyone who has heard previous music by Hundred Reasons will know the band for their energetic, fast paced and loud melodies, but with the first track on the album we are given a greeting of slow paced, melodic guitar and unexpectedly delicate vocals.

The album certainly begins in what feels like a restrained fashion. Compared to the previous album, the pace has definitely slowed and the tone has softened. In tracks like the first one, No Way Back, there are even tones of Feeder showing through. However the familiar soft shouting vocals that have been so central to Hundred Reasons' sound soon surface, and with them bring a warm sense of familiarity to those who know the band's sound well.

The single released from the album, titled I'll Never Know, has been described as fast paced and frenetic, and is a good introduction to the band for new listeners. The pace is certainly fast, and there are some great vocal harmonies; the band rings true to the sound that they are known for.

However, this in itself creates an issue with this album. The songs that stand out most are the ones that retain the bands original sound of harmonized 'soft-loud' vocals, and energetic, fast paced guitar riffs. But this creates the question of where it is that the band are trying to take their sound. That is, if they are trying to change it at all.

The only noticeable style change that goes on in this album, when compared to their previous music, is the slowing of pace and the softening of tone. But even this feels for the most part like the band are consciously holding back; forcibly playing their instruments slower, rather than it being a natural development of their music.

Releasing a single that maintains the sound the band is known for is definitely a good thing, as it shows that the band themselves feel that their old sound is the most successful one. In that respect, the only thing that brings this album down slightly is the seemingly confused purpose to the slower paced songs, that don't really work on their own but can't really function well within the album either. 

In that case, I would say let the band stick to their guns. As the saying goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

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Wed, 08/04/2009 - 10:24 — Admin