The One AM Radio - This Too Will Pass
Rating
RIYL
BeirutThe Postal Service
Margot & The Nuclear So-So’s
Tracklist
1. The Harvest2. In the Time We’ve Got
3. Lest I Forget
4. Mercury
5. Cast Away
6. Our Fall Apart
7. You Can Still Run
8. Fires
9. The Echoing Airports
10. Coming Back
11. Your Name
12. A Brittle Filament
13. Where I’m Headed
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From the first haunting plucks and ghostly “Aaah”s of “The Harvest” to the vibrato enriched guitar-weeping on “Where I’m Headed”, This Too Will Pass provides a diverse journey through a lush, eclectic daydream. At any given moment synthesized drums may bring a song’s whisper into a grooving trance, a soul-stirring violin may take a number to it’s crescendo, or the uncommon belting of the bass clarinet reminds you of how different music can be outside of the typical rock/pop four piece. The One AM Radio’s newest effort is truly a work that explores what varied elements can be added to a gentle piece while maintaining its accessibility to the general public.
Fans of the growing population of indie bands that are utilizing various methods of sound other than your typical guitar/drum combo will appreciate the amount of work and detail put into this album. Each song seems to have its own little personal touch of originality mingled with Hrishikesh Hirway’s soothing voice. “Mercury” is a particular quirky track with the aforementioned bass clarinet playing throughout. The horn sections hold a commanding presence on “Lest I Forget”, “Your Name”, and “Fires” (which happens to be one of the album’s strongest tracks). Piano and organ are prudently used in just the right places, but not so much that it feels like most of the singer/songwriter acts that are abundantly finding their way to the market. This CD is one of those efforts that you’ll want to have headphones on while listening and laying in bed because you’ll want to catch every little detail and just be enveloped by the tones.
This Too Will Pass requires a patient listener to fully appreciate its worth. Upon the first couple of listens, the album is well enough, but is hindered somewhat by its lack of upbeat material. It starts off strong with “In the Time We’ve Got” being the clear choice for a successful single; the chorus will be stuck in your head for days. The next two songs continue the forward, though somewhat subdued pace. “Cast Away” & “Our Fall Apart” are both quality songs, but make the album seem to drag somewhat to the casual audience. The disc doesn’t ever really shake the dreamy feel from that point on except during “Fires” and “The Echoing Airports”, but nevertheless entertains. It somehow manages to pack a punch without ever having to work up a sweat to do it.
--Jeremy Deal
Author
Jeremy Deal
Comments
eastern U.S.
Minnesota
Olathe, Kansas
Tucson, AZ
Yeah, it is harder to find a stand-out track, but as a whole experience, the album really does it for me - took a while to get to that point, but it won't leave you alone after a little while.
"These are our lives, but did they ever even matter - are we worth remembering?"
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