deadpoet

1. Round Here- The song starts off slowly, picks up tempo beautifully, and the overall impression is of an epic. It really works well. Adam Duritz seems to have great storytelling abilities. He doesn’t mumble, nor does he overpower the music. I’m always tempted to hit the replay button, but I prefer listening to the album as a whole. 10/10

2. Omaha- A very pleasant song. Something to relax to on a hot summer day. 8.5/10

3. Mr. Jones- The big hit off the album, and one can see why. The tune is super-catchy and the lyrics are relatable (Believe in me, help me believe in anything, ‘cause I wanna be someone who believes). It does everything a pop-rock single should do. Love it. 10/10

4. Perfect Blue Buildings- A change in tempo after Mr. Jones. This song just does not stick with me. The lyrics are intriguing, but the tune never seems to embed itself in my memory. This may be seen as an advantage as it will seem fresh every time I listen to it, but the fact remains that it’s not a very memorable song. 6.5/10

5. Anna Begins- Probably my favorite song off the album. It seems to be about an intense relationship between friends who are unable to define their relationship, perhaps because they’re afraid of letting themselves be hurt ("These seconds when I'm shaking leave me shuddering for days," she says, And I'm not ready for this sort of thing) The music complements the lyrics marvelously. Without doubt, 10/10

6. Time And Time Again-One of the songs that goes great when it is listened to with the flow of the album, but not something that I’d go out of my way to listen to. 7.5/10

7. Rain King- Not as catchy a single as Mr. Jones, and with dark undertones, but still very enjoyable. The piano shows itself to be a big part of the band. 9/10

8. Sullivan Street- A slow song, but one that’s really growing on me. 8.5/10

9. Ghost Train- Love is a ghost train. The song speaks of how past relationships haunt you. Who can’t relate to that? 8/10

10. Raining in Baltimore- I question the positioning of this song. It is a pretty great stand-alone track, but with those two slow songs before this one, I found my attention drifting. It’s a shame, really, because this is a very decent song. It is a stripped-down track that creates the mood of loneliness, longing and confusion really well 8/10

11. A Murder of One- Finally, the tempo picks up again. They started with a big track and now they end with one. It clearly seems to be about a woman who is trapped in a relationship with someone she doesn’t love, while the one who she actually loves tries to convince her to leave him. He tries to convince her not to waste her life, which would be ‘a murder of one’. Lyrics once again prove to be their strong suit. 10/10

Overall score: 8.7/10

A highly enjoyable album that’s easy to listen to. However, they do rely heavily on the standard of their lyrics, without which this would have been a below-average release, and I think I might tire of the lead singer’s voice (even if it is wrought with emotion) if I hear too much of it. That being said, if this debut is a sign of things to come, I’m really looking forward to listening to their next album.

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