Originally Posted by pepperface2
ALBUM REVIEW for "So Flows The Current" by Patrick O'Hearn
1) What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Well, the very first track was over 8 minutes long but my initial reaction was where is the intensity? It seems sad at the 2 minute mark when the guitar strolls in. It’s very peaceful. If you’re looking for a good song to help you get to sleep, THIS IS IT!
2) What did you think of the opening track?
The opening track is called “A Lovely Place to Be”. The song really takes you to a lovely place in your head. This music seems like it would be used a movie or something. It really would help anyone sleep. At first listen, you might skip over the first track because it’s so LONG, like who has time for that, but there is a beauty to it. It’s soothes your soul. You can’t be mad after listening to it; well, a little bit because it’s so long but it’s definitely got a peacefulness to it. THERE ARE NO WORDS
3) What did you think of the next track?
The next track was more what I was looking for with a more sounds going on but blended well. The song title is “So Flows the current”, it is a song you want to study with. Compared to the first song, this is like hardcore jumping. If you like that bass, that bass gets kicking. Huge improvement from the first song and takes up less time (6 minutes). THERE ARE NO WORDS
4) Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
5) Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
The music definitely has it’s place but I can’t listen to this all the time. I’d prefer to fall asleep to this type of music or in some movie this would be excellent. Seeing an orchestra performance LIVE is one of the best experiences you’ll have get. I know if I went to his concert, it would send chills down my spine. I’d say this music isn’t for everyone but it’s something you wouldn’t say isn’t talented. Even without vocals, the music, the expression, is all there. You almost feel it even more and the joy of it is that everyone has their own feelings to the same song, never the same. It’s enjoyable but I can’t listen to this all the time, UNLESS it’s at night and I need to fall asleep or STUDY!! This makes excellent study time music.
6) Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
The album got better as it went on. The album isn’t that mainstream type of music, which makes it even more enjoyable for me. Got to get out of your comfort zone and explore other types of music is important. If I had listened to this in college while studying in the library I definitely would have had A’s instead of C’s. Again, it’s something I can’t listen on repeat and play every day but it’s a good listen every now and then.
7) What did you think of the lyrical content?
8) Did you like the instrumental parts?
9) What did you think of the production?
The album progressively got better, and when you take a moment to sit down each song has its own beauty. The first song could really be done away with or at least cut down on it’s time. More time in a song doesn’t really equate to a better song. Just went on too long in my opinion.
10) Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
No I didn’t know this artist before listening to the album.
11) Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
I honestly don’t listen to this kind of music but listening to this I’ve added a playlist with this type of music so that if I want to study this would be great background noise to keep my focus. Sometimes words can be a distraction from what you’re doing. This music might have its place if I feel like taking a long walk, and by the end of it, you only gone through like one or two songs.
12) Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
I would say listening to this on repeat would make me want to drive a stick through my eyes. However, every once in a while, listening to this is fine. So long as this music is played when I’m about to sleep OR when I’m studying and NEVER on repeat.
13) What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
My favorite track on the album is clearly the “Beyond This Movement” followed by “Panning the Sands” and “So Flows The Current” respectfully.
14) And the one(s) you liked least?
The worst track was the opening track, “A Lovely Place to Be”. Just too long and nothing was happening. If clouds could talk, that’s what it sounded like and it would sound like one long note being played the entire 8 minutes driving you insane. “Along The Waterfront” was another song that I disliked.
15) If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
16) Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I’d like to hear more from this artist only to add to the sleep/study musical playlist. I honestly am not playing this in my car for road trips, I’m not hitting the gym with this music, and I’m sure not going to play this on repeat.
17) Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
I think I am surprised by my reaction. I thought I’d hate the album based off the first track. Music that doesn’t have words, to me, get looked at more negatively but I think listening to this album opened my eyes, my ears, and my heart and appreciated it more than I thought I would. I think overall, this album was alright for the casual listener but for those that like this genre of music, this album is lit!
18) Did the album end well?
The album ended with an emotional “Traveler’s Rest” which is very appropriate because your ass better be sleeping by that last track. The guitar slide is a nice added touch. I just don’t like the cloud noise, whatever instrument that is hurts my ears. This whole album is orchestra mixed with a lot of synthetic sounds. It’s very slow paced but it does have some nice parts to each song (except the first tract). Worth a listen once, not on REPEAT.
19) Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Well, in order to attract more fans, the easiest thing to do is add lyrics to the song. You throw in a sweet sounding female voice or a duet this would appeal to more people. Another thing you can add to this album is to take out the first track and speed things up. Every song was slow paced. Mix up the time tempos. Everything seemed like I was floating in a cloud and time never existed. The songs just went on and on.
20) Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
This album was pretty well put together, most songs were alright, some were beautiful. I’d say there were some misses but overall pretty good if you don’t mind that genre. If you don’t like that genre, people would have a more negative opinion. Since this was a pleasant surprise, I’d give this a more in-between grade.
I give this album a healthy 2.5 out of 5
I grade tough, and 5’s are practically impossible unless you’re the Beatles.
@Trollheart I'm new to this so I'm not sure where I'm suppose to post this at.
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