|
The Ocean Blue is beckoning you... The River Red
Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 Simple and easy to like, The Ocean Blue may not be among the most influential, critically lauded, or talked-about bands to arrive (a bit late) on the college alternative-rock scene. Indeed, they may sound almost as if Morrissey murdered Michael Stipe and took over the singing and songwriting for R.E.M. (Because, all these songs sound like Smiths songs done with R.E.M. arrangements ... and they twisted it enough to get an alluring signature sound out of it.) Yup. If you're looking for something wild and original, then "The Ocean Blue" is clearly not your ticket. But if you're someone who can't get enough of the college-rock scene, and isn't particularly threatened by music that is too eager to be loved, then this should simply be bought! It's not a significant work of art even in the slightest ... the album doesn't even contain a particular moment that stops me dead in my tracks and say to myself: "Wow, this is good." But the songs are all very very pleasant. The band (who does have good talent) take their influences, write some pretty good material, and give us a musical experience that is thoroughly pleasant and entertaining ... Very nice, indeed. I love albums that are this nice! ... I fell in love with this one immediately, and you should, also. Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 (The Smiths combined with some of R.E.M.'s production capabilities. It's not the most significant album on the alternative-rock scene and we've heard it before, basically, but they still did manage to produce one heck of a nice album. Entertaining! Fans of late 80s alternative-rock really ought to pick this one up.) Average Song Score: 8.9 (Really, really good songs! ... Not a stinker in sight!) Album Tilt: 8.5 (My biggest complaint, I guess, is that The Ocean Blue fails to produce a truly spectacular song! ... This is a pleasant diversion, to be sure, but it'll hardly take your breath away.) Artist Rating: 8.5 (They're no originals or real innovators, but they do know how to put a song together, certainly!) Track Reviews Between Something and Nothing 9.5/10 This song is both dreamy and wonderful! ... The melody is perfect and the instrumentation makes this a really, really great listen. It's such a smooth song ... this thing is about as easy to swallow as a hot fudge sundae. (Mmmm... sundaes...) Of course, it's not perfect (the melody does have its high and low points), but it sure is vastly entertaining. Very exquisitely done! Vanity Fair 9/10 I really like this song. I enjoy the rhythm section, the tune, but most all of the very wonderfully constructed atmosphere! ... Yeoutch! That's the only thing that would make me want to listen to "The Ocean Blue" rather than their more famous superiors (i.e. The Smiths). R.E.M. did similar stuff to their songs, but ... this is different. And different is good! Especially if you can't get enough of the stuff. Drifting, Falling 9.5/10 Another good alternative-rock ditty with all a fine melody and some really nice instrumentation. Very very entertaining ... this song's another pure delight! Again, if you discovered that you like alternative rock like R.E.M., The Smiths, or Echo and the Bunnymen, this is definitely a good thing to get. The Circus Animal 8.5/10 The atmospherics of this song work remarkably well! (Hey! If I didn't know that Tony Banks was a goner by 1989, I would have told him to watch this!) ... This has some very nice keyboard work that's unusual (especially for an alternative band) ... it's rather luxurious, but it's just enough so that it doesn't go overboard. That's a really nice effect. Frigid Winter Days 8.5/10 A happy upbeat song that's also arranged pretty well! The Ocean Blue sure do keep a close watch on their melodies! This is really quite nice! ... It's not very original, though. (This sounds a lot like The Smiths), but oh well. I like The Smiths and I like this band, too. :-P Just Let Me Know 8.5/10 Another alluring alterno-rock song! ... Certainly not spectacular on any real level other than that spot-on atmosphere! ... The melody sure isn't anything to write home about. Love Song 9/10 Very nice! ... I love the atmosphere quite a lot, and the other aspects of the song are done pretty good as well. The melody is simple, but it's lovely ... Yet another good one from The Ocean Blue! Ask Me Jon 8.5/10 Not as spectacular, I guess. The atmosphere of the thing doesn't sweep me away on a cloud where all the magic fluffel people live and smoke their merry fluffel pipes, or anything. (I'm not high, I promise.) Yeah ... this is a bit weak on the atmosphere front, but this is still pretty strong! A perfectly fine alternative-rocker with a pretty good tune! Awaking to a Dream 8/10 Hmm ... either this song is genuinely weaker than all the previous tracks, or the band's material is just no longer new and exciting! ... Really, pretty much all of these songs are the same! Oh well. This is another solid track! Nice melody, instrumentation, cool atmosphere. I like it! Just not as much. The Office of a Busy Man 9/10 Well, THIS was well-done, indeed! The song's well-crafted melody is even further intensified by all that really nice instrumentation! Another reason to call The Ocean Blue a pleasant diversion. Myron 9.5/10 Eek! They're getting better now, methinks! Pretty soon (unless the album ends), The Ocean Blue will be overtaking The Beatles, probably. ... Hmm ... They let the album end after the next track. Let's just say that was their first mistake! ... This is yet another fine, fine song with nice, siren-esque arrangements amidst a solid but normal alternative-rock tune. A Familiar Face 9/10 Yup. This is the last song of the album! Boo hoo! ... Oh well. I guess all good things must come to an end ... like pornographic films ... And, that goes for The Ocean Blue, too. This song is very similar to all the other songs on here. The tune is pretty good (and alternative-rock like) ... but the atmosphere is what makes this so enjoyable! Another fine song! Yay! Do you feel ready to send me all your thoughts about The Ocean Blue here? |
