Review Summary: Odi Acoustic delivers a true gem that is sadly left uncovered by many.
Odi Acoustic is a one man band led by the one and only Lukas Odenthal. Some may recognize him from Youtube with his blink-182 and Angels and Airwaves covers. Here he pours his heart and soul into beautifully writing 11 tracks, but then half-asses two more.
The standouts in "Getting Back Home" aren't because a song is so incredible, its because a song is so mediocre it stands out. This is shown with the track that bring this album to a screeching halt, "Thank You." Odenthal has good intentions with this song, but they didn't land like he wanted them to. This song doesn't slow things down in a good way, that's what the previous track "I'm Gonna Miss You" does, and it does it well. The other track that falls flat on its face is "Lie." There's a few cool guitar effects going on here, but they sound very ringy, not to mention Odenthal's vocals are not as good on this track as opposed to, well, any other track. This song drags, even with drums to keep it going.
Other notable missteps are in the chorus of "Tired of You" where Odenthal slides from power chord to power chord, with hitting something in between every time that is really jarring. The other thing, is that since this album wasn't made with a studio or with much money behind it, the equipment is sub-par mainly the vocal recording. In most of the tracks if you listen really really closely, you can hear it. It is the most present in the finishing move "Final Goodbye," a slow electric piano song. Every time the vocals cut out for Odenthal to take a breath or for the piano/drum duo to take over, a jarring silence happens, due to every time he sings, there's that quiet ringing static. Other than on this track, it doesn't stand out too much.
In "Getting Back Home" there are many tracks that use drums to their advantage. In tracks like "Find Out," a wonderful intro to the album that really sets the mood, "One Mile Ahead," a favorite of mine, that uses electric leads over the acoustic and stunning vocals, and "Perfection" using fast drums to make an amazing last song before the finale. Another track, "Nothing Left To Say" uses a tambourine for a more campfire feel to it.
For those that do not like the inclusion of drums, there are still a few good tracks without them, although after hearing the tracks with drums they feel a little empty. "Fake" and "Life" both have no drums, and still can carry themselves quite well with "Fake" being a short 1:45 about someone on the receiving end of a failing relationship (the emptiness burning through skin, and everything does numb, can lying make better things come?) and "Life" with high guitar chords leading Odenthal's high vocals.
Overall, Odi Acoustic's "Getting Back Home" will blow you away with many of it's track, but may lose you in a few, but not in a good way. Tracks like "Find Out," "I'm Gonna Miss You," "Fake," "One Mile Ahead," "Let Me Come Home," "So Much More," "Nothing Left To Say," Perfection," and "Final Goodbye" are not to be missed. Other tracks may fall short, but no fear, Odenthal's other band "Third Cucumber" has a much improved version of "Tired of You," so there you go.
Odenthal's music doesn't break barriers, but it doesn't need to. This is a pleasant listen for anyone wanting to relax ~ just skip tracks 4 and 10.
3.5/5
Favorite Track ~ Perfection
Least Favorite Track ~ Lie
