Villagers :: Awayland

PoorOldPo · 01-22-2013, 11:03 AM

This album is a huge leap from their debut and it feels more organic, less overly produced. It has more of a grounded earthy feeling to it like their EP before Becoming a Jackal.

My Lighthouse

A short and Sweet song. The vocal harmonies display the unity in the band. It made me realise that Villagers is now an entire band as opposed to a Conor O Brien's Solo act. The lyrics are also incredibly beautiful. "From the Reaperban to the Sunderban, I will heed your call from the dust and sand"

Villagers - My Lighthouse (Live from Attica) - YouTube

Earthly Pleasure

This song marks the first indication of the dramatic change in style this album introduces for the band. It has an eerie psychedelic element to it. The lyrics hold the song together, and the beautiful chorus is its' glue. "Earthly Pleasure ring out from the caverns of my soul" This is one of my favourite songs in the album.

Villagers - Earthly Pleasure - YouTube

The Waves

This is the first song I heard from their new album and it blew me away. Conor uses some electronica morse code noises at the start. The song builds into an incredibly chaotic, blissful psychedelic jam at the end of the song. After a few listens, the lyrics became very catchy for me as well. This is another very strong song in the album and probably one of the defining songs as well. I really hope Conor continues down this neo psychedelic trail.

Villagers - The Waves (Official Video) - YouTube

Judgement Call

I was unsure about this song when I first heard it. But it has grown on me a lot. The acoustic guitar that comes 30 seconds in, the drum beat, and the lyrical content now gives me goosebumps. I don't usually read into songs too much but the subject matter of this song is very obvious, the Catholic Church and its' negative impact on Irish society, it is a song of personal revelation. " God Forbid they retain their sense of wonder" I also love the keys that come in at the end with the lyrics " Its a Judgement". The way this song ends really reminds me of the Beatles as well. Overall this is a great song.

Villagers - Judgement Call - YouTube

Nothing Arrived

Another single from the album. This is another song that grew on me over time. Its a bubbly pop song, and a good one. The thing I like about this album is that you can hear that Conor and his band mates are more comfortable in their shoes when it came to recording it, and that they were more self assured, the production is much more full and confident. The Chorus of this song makes it " I guess I was busy, when nothing arrived"

Villagers - Nothing Arrived (Official Video) - YouTube

The Bell

This song was not as good as I had hoped it would be. I heard it live whenever I went to their shows and I knew it would be on the album. The thing that always excited me about this song was how heavy it was compared to their older stuff. Sometimes I feel that Conor's voice would be complimented with reverb and delay, and I think this song needed that. That aside, I love the pop element to this song and that end is absolutely breathtaking.

Villagers - The Bell - YouTube

Awayland

I love this song so much. It is the title track and it is also the most profound and surreal song on the album. It creates a coloured landscape for me, the minimal and reverby vocals of Conor give me goosebumps, it is the most psychedelic song on the album and one of my favourite. I love the guitar flowing through the song and the violin, It is incredibly haunting. I thought this would have been a great closer for the album initially but now I think it works better as its' spine, it holds everything together.

Villagers - Awayland - YouTube

Passing a Message

Another song that has grown on me(this album is good at doing that)
I love the lyrics and message of the song. It is quite a dark and cynical song, probably the darkest song in the album.

Grateful Song

The only song I am a little unsure about in the album, maybe it hasn't grown on me yet. However I love the change in the song where Conor's vocals change in sound.

In a Newfound Land You Are Free

This is without a doubt the most beautiful song on the album. The piano, Conor's vocals, the guitar melody, everything is just perfect. I honestly don't know what else to say about this song, because that about covers everything. I knew when I heard it live that it was going to be special, and it did not dissapoint.

Villagers - In a NewFound Land You Are Free - YouTube

Rhythm Composer

I really like this song( I know I say that a lot ). I didn't know what to think when I heard it first, or how I felt about the fact it was the last song on the album, but it caught me. It is another poppy song and its' subject matter contradicts the uplifting tone of it, it is about depression. The song fades out and ends the album with an electronic beat and a donkey or ass neighing in the backround. Quite a surreal way to end the album.

Overall the album really surprised me. I am giving it an 8.5/10

01-22-2013, 11:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
PoorOldPo Blue Pill Oww Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Luimneach, Eire Posts: 1,107	Villagers :: Awayland This album is a huge leap from their debut and it feels more organic, less overly produced. It has more of a grounded earthy feeling to it like their EP before Becoming a Jackal. My Lighthouse A short and Sweet song. The vocal harmonies display the unity in the band. It made me realise that Villagers is now an entire band as opposed to a Conor O Brien's Solo act. The lyrics are also incredibly beautiful. "From the Reaperban to the Sunderban, I will heed your call from the dust and sand" Villagers - My Lighthouse (Live from Attica) - YouTube Earthly Pleasure This song marks the first indication of the dramatic change in style this album introduces for the band. It has an eerie psychedelic element to it. The lyrics hold the song together, and the beautiful chorus is its' glue. "Earthly Pleasure ring out from the caverns of my soul" This is one of my favourite songs in the album. Villagers - Earthly Pleasure - YouTube The Waves This is the first song I heard from their new album and it blew me away. Conor uses some electronica morse code noises at the start. The song builds into an incredibly chaotic, blissful psychedelic jam at the end of the song. After a few listens, the lyrics became very catchy for me as well. This is another very strong song in the album and probably one of the defining songs as well. I really hope Conor continues down this neo psychedelic trail. Villagers - The Waves (Official Video) - YouTube Judgement Call I was unsure about this song when I first heard it. But it has grown on me a lot. The acoustic guitar that comes 30 seconds in, the drum beat, and the lyrical content now gives me goosebumps. I don't usually read into songs too much but the subject matter of this song is very obvious, the Catholic Church and its' negative impact on Irish society, it is a song of personal revelation. " God Forbid they retain their sense of wonder" I also love the keys that come in at the end with the lyrics " Its a Judgement". The way this song ends really reminds me of the Beatles as well. Overall this is a great song. Villagers - Judgement Call - YouTube Nothing Arrived Another single from the album. This is another song that grew on me over time. Its a bubbly pop song, and a good one. The thing I like about this album is that you can hear that Conor and his band mates are more comfortable in their shoes when it came to recording it, and that they were more self assured, the production is much more full and confident. The Chorus of this song makes it " I guess I was busy, when nothing arrived" Villagers - Nothing Arrived (Official Video) - YouTube The Bell This song was not as good as I had hoped it would be. I heard it live whenever I went to their shows and I knew it would be on the album. The thing that always excited me about this song was how heavy it was compared to their older stuff. Sometimes I feel that Conor's voice would be complimented with reverb and delay, and I think this song needed that. That aside, I love the pop element to this song and that end is absolutely breathtaking. Villagers - The Bell - YouTube Awayland I love this song so much. It is the title track and it is also the most profound and surreal song on the album. It creates a coloured landscape for me, the minimal and reverby vocals of Conor give me goosebumps, it is the most psychedelic song on the album and one of my favourite. I love the guitar flowing through the song and the violin, It is incredibly haunting. I thought this would have been a great closer for the album initially but now I think it works better as its' spine, it holds everything together. Villagers - Awayland - YouTube Passing a Message Another song that has grown on me(this album is good at doing that) I love the lyrics and message of the song. It is quite a dark and cynical song, probably the darkest song in the album. Grateful Song The only song I am a little unsure about in the album, maybe it hasn't grown on me yet. However I love the change in the song where Conor's vocals change in sound. In a Newfound Land You Are Free This is without a doubt the most beautiful song on the album. The piano, Conor's vocals, the guitar melody, everything is just perfect. I honestly don't know what else to say about this song, because that about covers everything. I knew when I heard it live that it was going to be special, and it did not dissapoint. Villagers - In a NewFound Land You Are Free - YouTube Rhythm Composer I really like this song( I know I say that a lot ). I didn't know what to think when I heard it first, or how I felt about the fact it was the last song on the album, but it caught me. It is another poppy song and its' subject matter contradicts the uplifting tone of it, it is about depression. The song fades out and ends the album with an electronic beat and a donkey or ass neighing in the backround. Quite a surreal way to end the album. Overall the album really surprised me. I am giving it an 8.5/10 __________________ https://www.instagram.com/hennas.lullaby/