Review Summary: Basia Bulat's mesmerizing voice, Bobby Bulat's roaring drums, combined with a medley of orchestral instruments. This album will both shake the foundations, and ease your mind.
This sophomore album by Canadian Singer/Songwriter Basia Bulat is nothing short of mind-blowing. Fast-paced epics, catchy melodies, and outstanding musicianship; all complimented by well written, dramatic lyrics.
The album starts out with an acoustic guitar driven song called, 'Go On'. 'Go On', is one of the most powerful songs on the album, instrumentally, and vocally. A medley of 8 instruments (excluding vocals) brings this track to life, and makes a great first impression for what's to come.
Each song is unique in it's own way, giving the album infinite playability. Most of the songs on the album seem to revolve around Basia Bulat's strong vocals or Bobby Bulat's (Her brother) intense drum playing. The vocals on this album are more immersing than it's predecessor, as are the drums. Songs like, "Go On", "Gold Rush", and, "Run", really show Bobby's creativity behind a drum kit, whether it be a unique beat, or draping a towel over the snare drum to create a new sound completely.
The best way I could describe the feel of this album (musically) is, "Springy", and not a spring as in, a tightly wound metal coil chalked full of potential energy, but the season Spring. I suppose it could go either way, although, the energy of this album is most definitely kinetic. Her debut album, "Oh, My Darling", has more of a Winter feel to it. This album will definitely be my soundtrack for many Springs to come.
This is not a concept album, yet there is a string of continuity that makes itself apparent in the lyrics of some songs on the album. That theme being: Staying consistent and never losing sight of one's self in the hectic journey we all know as life. (At least that's what I gathered from it)
The consistency of the kick drum in a few of the songs really give it that feel as well. Almost as if to convey the message without words.
Basia could not have chosen a better band to record this album with. The instrumentals on every track are phenomenal. Even with 8+ different instruments all playing at the same time (on some tracks), it is not the least bit overwhelming, or messy. Soothing, and beautiful if anything. Like a small orchestra. The production quality is great as well. Many kudos to the band and engineers.
It would be nearly impossible for me to choose a favorite song on the album, because I love them all. But the song I have played the most is, "Sparrow", a short song of just ukulele and vocals by Basia. Even though it is short, and simple, it is definitely not a, "filler". As far as I'm concerned, there are absolutely no fillers on this album, every song is as good as the last.
As with every album, I had to give it a few listens to really start enjoying it. Since I fell in love with it, I haven't stopped listening to it. I've listened to it at least 30 times all the way through, and there is not a single track on it that I do not enjoy anymore. This album will always be on the top of my mind, and the top of my collection for the rest of my life.
