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Review Summary: Less breakdowns and complaining, more synth and singing. Being As An Ocean's 'How We Both Wondrously Perish' is fresh and unique, however it often feels stale and too many times the new found artistic approach from the band either makes or breaks a song.
From the beginning it is obvious that Being As An Ocean have changed a considerable amount since 'Dear G-d', it feels like they're matured a lot as a band. Gone are the breakdowns to get all the stretched ear snapback wearing fans throwing fists and gone are the extremely melo-dramatic lyrics about hating life and not being happy that all of the teenage girls related to. This album separates Being As An Ocean from the pack of bands such as Counterparts and Hundredth, aggressively driven melodic hardcore, as this album suits the tag of post-hardcore much more. Often at times I felt myself being reminded of bands such as Thursday and Alexisonfire, mainly through the introduction of a new clean vocalist in ex-The Elijah's Michael McGough.
McGough's vocals are soaring and beautiful, however they often change the song. Take for example 'We Drag The Dead On Leashes', while it's a good song the introduction of the sung vocals completely change the pace of the song. The drastic difference between vocalist Joel Quartuccio's yelling and spoken word when compared to McGough's adds another level to the music, and it was something that was really needed. While Quartuccio's clean singing parts on 'Dear G-d' were enjoyable, he couldn't deliver through live, whereas anyone who has seen The Elijah live can guarantee you McGough is able to do just that.
Another major change to the music is the use of synthesisers in songs, from muddled distortion to droning echos and beats throughout verses it is almost always noticeable through the album, and while on some songs it works really well, other songs take a massive step back because of it. In 'The Poets Cry For More' the first minute of the song works fantastically with the synth, as Quartuccio does another emotional spoken word part while the synth softly stays in the background, making the music feel truly beautiful. However in 'Even The Dead Have Their Tasks' the synth is constantly drowning out the rest of the music throughout the entire song, which culminates in what I would easily say is the worst part of the album in the breakdown which is destroyed by muddy, staticy synth. A moment like the breakdown in 'The Hardest Part...' from the first album is completely ruined by something that feels completely unnecessary is almost frustrating to hear.
The lyrics are a huge improvement on this album, they feel much more mature and more aware of problems throughout the world and other people rather than just centering on one person like in 'Dear G-d', as Quartuccio often sang about his own problems. The spoken word parts are gripping and hard to ignore no matter what you're doing, even though they do sound a lot like Dan Smith from Listener in most moments, I still often found myself getting sucked into the stories and moments Quartuccio is described as I listened whether I was at home or travelling. The biggest example of this is the track 'Mothers', without a doubt my favourite on the album and truly beautiful, easily the most tear-jerking part of the album. It's emotional and the end features trumpets, which is one of the surprises as it is a moment that works really well with the pace of the song.
'How We Both Wondrously Perish' is a step in the right direction for Being As An Ocean, although a timid and small one. The overall sound of the band is much better and it feels like they're doing what they want with the music rather than boring, generic melodic hardcore with constant breakdowns. While the artistic approach is wonderful in some part, it is also too over-used in some, which really weighs down the overall feel of the album along with the pacing, as songs are often ended with synth, never keeping a continuous flow. That being said, it is still an enjoyable album and something that will polarise fans of the band from 'Dear G-d'.
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Oh dear..... some pointers, chin up.
Being As An Ocean's 'How We Both Wondrously Perish' is fresh and unique, however it often feels stale and too many times the new found artistic approach from the band either makes or breaks a song.[quote]
One sentence is rarely a paragraph, but this is only the start of the problem. Try to limit your opening points especially if your second contradicts your first. "Fresh" and "unique" is not the same as "stale" (yes I know what you're going for, but it's the way you present your thoughts that let you down. You also have a weird statement that doesn't mean anything, and is not backed up by any examples. It's a nothing sentence, that does nothing for your reader.
[quote]From the beginning it is obvious that Being As An Ocean have changed a considerable amount since 'Dear G-d'
Is it? You need to back yourself up, find examples that readers unfamiliar with the group can relate to, provide something that gives this statement body.
Gone are the breakdowns to get all the stretched ear snapback wearing fans throwing fists and gone are the extremely melo-dramatic lyrics about hating life and not being happy that all of the teenage girls related to.
If it doesn't sound right spoken aloud, it's going to be worse in text...
Comparing lyrics to "not being happy" and "teenage girls" is going to see you on the wrong end of a pointy stick. Find some comparisons that actually make sense.
This album separates Being As An Ocean from the pack of bands such as Counterparts and Hundredth, aggressively driven melodic hardcore, as this album suits the tag of post-hardcore much more.
Name dropping is okay - - when it's relevant. But you don't say how this album separates itself from others (it doesn't really, but it's your point so I digress). You need to back yourself up, find something on the album that backs you up.
------------------------------------------------------------------More on the next post.
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Often at times I felt myself being reminded of bands such as Thursday and Alexisonfire, mainly through the introduction of a new clean vocalist in ex-The Elijah's Michael McGough.
This is actually a good opening statement, but (this is a recording) you really need to say how, where....
McGough's vocals are soaring and beautiful, however they often change the song
A redundant sentence but we could clean it up anyways. Try saying these out loud. If you find it weird to say, it's going to worse when somebody reads it. "McGough's vocals are often soaring and beautiful to the ear, changing the song's overall atmosphere, giving life to the album as a whole".
You don't have to blow smoke up a vocalists' what-sy but it helps to spread your thoughts out into a readable sentence.
The drastic difference between vocalist Joel Quartuccio's yelling and spoken word when compared to McGough's adds another level to the music,
McGough's what? Yelling and spoken word or something else?
--------------------------------------------more on next......
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While Quartuccio's clean singing parts on 'Dear G-d' were enjoyable, he couldn't deliver through live,
This is a recording....
whereas anyone who has seen The Elijah live can guarantee you McGough is able to do just that.
Relevance to this album? You're reviewing a studio release, a live show should be the last thing to mention (if mentioned at all). It's okay to have a point of view or two, just be sure you know how to keep on topic.
The lyrics are a huge improvement on this album, they feel much more mature and more aware of problems throughout the world and other people rather than just centering on one person like in 'Dear G-d', as Quartuccio often sang about his own problems.
You're reviewing How We Both Wondrously Perish not this "Dear G-d", get back on topic. You've mentioned this other record so many times I'm not actually sure what you're reviewing.
Another major change to the music is the use of synthesizers* in songs,
You've made a statement, finish with a full-stop.
--------------------------------------------------There's more on the next....
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Nah, you get the idea, it's been a while since I've been able to provide some constructive criticism to writing. Hopefully this will help out. If you need me to keep going (probably not) you can find me on my shoutbox.
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I've heard this band doesn't poop.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Great review and expresses my exact feelings towards this album. I have one complain though, do you even know what
breakdowns are? Because on Dear G-d, there were I think a total of 2, maybe 3 if you count an extremely subtle one. You
make it seem like Dear G-d was the emmure of melodic hardcore.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Dear G-d was far superior than this.
Death great black wings is by far this bands best song though, but every other song just falls flat compared to anything from Dear G-d.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I must be missing why everyone dislikes this album but I think it's fantastic. I've had it on repeat since it came out and haven't gotten tired of it. I think it's a grower because even my first listen it felt weaker but it really built up over repeat listens.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Also the breakdown on Even The Dead Have Their Tasks is enhanced by the noise in my opinion.
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