Nothing More
The Few Not Fleeting


4.0
excellent

Review

by Tyler White STAFF
August 7th, 2018 | 16 replies


Release Date: 2009 | Tracklist

Review Summary: The beginning of a successful future

Before the days of “This is the Time (Ballast)” and “Jenny” there was The Few Not Fleeting, the foundational album of the band’s success. It’s quite clear this is the formula the band would base the rest of their future albums upon. Soaring bridges and build-ups, aggressive choruses, melodic vocals, complex yet groovy drumming, and a solid mixture of guitar and bass riffs playing off of each other. The album’s sound combines alternative metal, “mainstream” rock, and some math rock influence sprinkled in here and there.

Although generally seen as a hard rock band, Nothing More displays their ability to alternate between softer, melodic tones and aggressive, distorted tracks, often mixing the two together. Songs like “Bullets and Blue Eyes” and the title track exhibit rock-tinged riffs with harmonically-complemented verses, accompanied by driving drums and impressive vocal work. Other songs like “Waiting On Rain” and “Blue and Gold” rely on the more melodic side of The Few Not Fleeting, detailed with clean, chord-driven guitars, groovy drum beats, and soaring vocals. However, found within the depths, are a few moments of the album that perfectly combine the two styles (“It Seems”), effortlessly mixing the cleaner guitars with slow tempo drums accompanied with the palm-muted six strings scattered among the verses.

Individually, each member holds strong on their own. Guitars are prominent throughout the album, tackling different styles of performing, from tremolo in the verses of “Salem,” to straight forward riffing in “The Few Not Fleeting” and “Fell In Love With a Ghost,” to even acoustic undertone in “Bullets and Blue Eyes.” Although never impressive by any technical standpoint, the guitars work perfectly in the style of the album, eventually becoming the staple guitar sound of Nothing More in albums to come. Often accompanying the axe, the bass actually has its moments in the spotlight, sometimes taking over riffing responsibilities or just carrying a verse along with ease. “Fat Kid” shows the bass taking the forefront, enhancing the techno-esque verses, while “Gone” emphasizes the importance of bass and guitar brotherhood, playing with each other and only improving each one’s ability. The most impressive musicianship found throughout the album is actually the drumming, mixing in casual alternative metal style drumming with an undeniably infectious groove. “Blue and Gold” showcases it all, pummeling drums in the chorus, with fast-paced, rhythmic beats filled with ghost notes in the verses. Although the instrumentation is phenomenal, Johnny Hawkins’ vocals remain as the most prominent feature of the album (much like recent records).

Although not quite as developed and mature as their self-titled LP, Johnny Hawkins still shows off his talent as a vocalist, displaying his extravagant vocal range, being able to hit both low and high notes with ease. “Fell In Love With a Ghost” is full of falsetto highs, juxtaposed by lower pitched singing found throughout “Fat Kid.” Despite the fact that the vocals are still quite amazing on The Few Not Fleeting, there is something off about them every now and then, especially when compared to the vocal work on Nothing More and The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Nonetheless, Hawkins provides us with a vocal performance often not found in alternative metal.

Overall, it is quite clear that this album was a much needed foundation in the band's discography, as it provided them with the sound that best suited them and that they eventually came to improve upon. With its fair share of flaw, Nothing More create an album short of a classic, but well above the average of albums specifically in the genre. This is the best of the band’s past, and the future of their career.



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user ratings (119)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
tyman128
Staff Reviewer
August 7th 2018


4611 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I love this album quite a bit, and was slightly disappointed that there wasn't a review for it yet. So, I took the opportunity and wrote up one. Hopefully it does the album justice. If you haven't yet, you should definitely check this out.

bloc
August 8th 2018


70683 Comments


Ah, good ol' shirtless metal

bgillesp
August 8th 2018


8868 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I didn't realize this wasn't reviewed! Nice job!

bgillesp
August 8th 2018


8868 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I only disagree about praising Hawkins performance here. His vocal tone is the stuff of legends but his control over it was completely underdeveloped here. It very clearly has a lot of studio editing to make up for the fact that he had been the drummer, not vocalist, for the previous 5+ years of the band.

bgillesp
August 8th 2018


8868 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Even his own parents laughed at him when he said he was taking over vocal duties. After years of professional lessons though, he now has solid control of that luscious golden tone

tyman128
Staff Reviewer
August 8th 2018


4611 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Hawkins voice is the only drawback for me, but it isn't horrible by any means. I do still think it's a prominent feature of the album, and like I said it's not nearly as "developed and mature" as the next few albums.

bgillesp
August 8th 2018


8868 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I can agree with that. Sorry, didn't mean to sound like I was ripping on you. Just got excited to talk about one of my favorite bands. Jamming this now. I think Fat Kid may be my fav track. Or maybe It Seems

bgillesp
August 8th 2018


8868 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, on reread, I see what you're saying better in that paragraph. My bad

JakeStallion
August 8th 2018


658 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Good review. I remember randomly discovering these guys back in 2009 or 2010 through “Fat Kid” and was hooked instantly. I adore this album to bits and still go back to it frequently (though I love their 2 most recent as well).

bgillesp
August 8th 2018


8868 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Their s/t is one of the best of the decade hands down for me. This one is darn near close.

tyman128
Staff Reviewer
August 8th 2018


4611 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

No worries bg

S/T is such an improvement from this and hands down their best yet. Probably going to review it for the sake of going through the discography.

JakeStallion
August 8th 2018


658 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Self-titled is one of my fave albums of all time, but this one holds a very special place in my heart too. It definitely lacks some polish compared to their layer stuff, but I just love how raw and energetic it feels. I wouldn’t mind seeing them incorporating a bit of the more experimental sounds they used on here in some new music.

tyman128
Staff Reviewer
August 8th 2018


4611 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Definitely. If they mixed the raw energy of this album with their new, more mature sound, it would be phenomenal. S/T had some moments with that, but TSWTO failed to do so. Songs like "Fell In Love With a Ghost" and "It Seems" would be great

TheTripP
August 8th 2018


4674 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

good album

JakeStallion
August 13th 2018


658 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Just finished revisiting this album now. God I still fucking adore it. ‘It Seems’ is such a great closer. Never fails to get me in my feels. Side note: i’d love to see the band do a song in the vein of ‘Fat Kid’ again. So silly but so damn groovy.

Kopkiwi
September 15th 2021


78 Comments


I would love to know what happened within the band between the time of previous release and then this one. Such a dramatic improvement in quality.



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