Out Of the Blue is an album that has its moments, but is ultimately a forgettable experience without much payoff. There were a few good songs on this project, such as Steppin' Out, and of course, Mr. Blue Sky. but it was mostly boring, pretentious, wanna-be-psychedelic music. This album sounds like a band trying to sound like Pink Floyd but trying not to make it obvious that they are. Overall, it was an OK experience but not something I would revisit.
Industrial influences
Processed vocals + guitars, mechanical drums, synthesizers
Produced by BRIAN ENO!!!!! Which is why it sounds good for a U2 album
If people think NIN is gateway industrial, this is the gateway to gateway industrial.
The general atmosphere of some of the songs makes it difficult to get the point of the lyrics across sometimes. The instrumentation in Who's Gonna... is way too upbeat for what Bono sings about.
A lot of these songs feel a little dragged out, especially when most of them have no big changes over the course of the song. This is the case with So Cruel, where the song is 5 minutes long but has no big evolutions or changes.
The Fly resolves almost every problem I've had with the album so far.
Mysterious Ways is one of my favourites so far. It's not overly complicated, doesn't overstay its welcome and contains some great guitar work from The Edge.
This album is very hit or miss, with the misses still being listenable and the hits "pretty good" at the best. Overall, its an ok album but would take a lot of effort to listen to the whole thing at once, as it is very draggy.
Sounds like Muse but good.
An interesting combination of indie rock and many other things, each song sounds different but still contains some core elements. This creates continuity, as well as sounding interesting and stays fresh throughout the whole listening experience. Though at times the lyrics feel a bit unfocused and vague, they are still interesting and feel new. This album suffers from a better last half than first half, which I don't believe I've heard before. Time Has Come Again is a great album closer that feels very satisfying when listened to after the rest of the album. It reminds me of Love is a Place on Old World Underground, where it is one of the only mellower songs on the album that gives you a break from the chaos and a chance to reflect on what you've heard so far. This was a solid album, but I feel it may have been carried a bit by the last 6 songs. If it weren't for those, I would probably rank it lower.
This album starts off on a high note, showcasing all that the band has to offer. Glamorous, poppy, dream-like sounds combined with the moody and emotional vocals over top. As well as the orchestra that mirrors every part and feeling. There is also a very bombastic, over-the-top feeling that suits the dramatic sound of the band very well. The lyrics are very well written, but at times feel like just words that sound good with each-other, as opposed to lyrics with actual meaning. This normally doesn't matter much to me, but with the impactful feeling that you get with the other parts of the composition, it does suffer a bit. I don't normally like comparing artists or albums to other artists or albums, but I do recognize a big Doors/Jim Morrison influence, especially on the song Thorn of Crowns. The last song on the album, Ocean Rain was a solid closer that does a good job of wrapping things up, and making the album feel very concise. The last two songs on the album seem to match the energy of the opening two songs, creating a sort of overarching arc. Overall, this album was great, and felt very consistent in quality.
Favourite song: Killing Moon (obviously)
Least favourite song: Thorn of Crowns (I feel like it may grow on me though.)
The starting track, Solo Dancer, is a powerful, moving song that that encapsulates chaos and disarray in the most brooding and plain scary way possible. This song sounds like the descent into the underworld, underneath a smooth, jazzy number. Track B, Duete Solo Dancers starts in the exact opposite way from Track A. Slow and soft, offering a chance to breathe. Before it slowly increases in tempo, coming back to the intense, unhinged feeling of the previous track. The tempo fluctuates, creating a confusing and overwhelming environment that encapsulates you. Track C, Group Dancers, is structured the same as Track B. Starting off with a slow, melodic piano solo before eventually descending into the chaos of the previous two tracks. Mode D/Mode E serve as a summary of the previous 3 tracks. They feature solos from almost every instrument, similar stanzas/motifs and composition to the previous tracks. Overall, this was a great album. Something I don't think I would have discovered, or given a chance before. But I'm glad I did.
Favourite Track: Mode D/Mode E Medley
Least favourite: None
This album starts off the way an album should. Zebra starts out with a stripped-down, dream-like sound, until it slowly grows into a full song by the end. It shows and doesn't tell what they are capable. With smooth melodies, interesting lyrics, and a powerful voice, they manage to set the stage for what I hope will be a very interesting experience, while also not giving too much away. (Also the main stanza of the chorus says among us. 10/10 album already.) The next song, Silver Soul, continues from where Zebra left off. With a fuzzy, pulsating backbone, it doesn't need a build-up to start the song off, it just launches you right into it. This song sounds like happy shoegaze, and makes me very excited for what's to come. The next song, Norway, seamlessly transitions from Silver Soul with a simple driving drum beat. This song feels more behind the beat and gives a very drowsy feel. The quivering synths give it a very laid-back sound. In this song, the vocals seem to take part as another instrument, adding depth and secondary melodies to the instrumentation. The next song, Walk in the Park, reminds me a lot of The Kills. The vocals have a very Alison Mosshart flow to them, and the singer has a voice similar to her as well. Other than that, this song doesn't really showcase anything new, but is still an enjoyable track. Used to Be is in the same boat as Walk in the Park. While it doesn't offer anything new, it still maintains interest. I believe this could be because of the formula I'm seeing them use. The combination of organic and electronic to create a sort of dreamlike trance while also maintaining that upbeat poppy sound. While I enjoy this song, I do think that they may need to add something new to the table to freshen up the sound and keep my attention. This is the same with Lover of Mine, and Better Times. Though Better Times did have a bit of an interesting change in terms of arrangement, which was something I hadn't heard before. Unfortunately, the rest of the album didn't really change or evolve much, and it all kind of sounded the same. But the songs that were good were good. This album does suffer from a better first half than last half.
Favourite song: Silver Soul
Least favourite: Take Care
