I do like the sound of “Almeria.” The music is quite raw and organic, and I dig Jason Wade’s low, husky vocals. “Gotta be Tonight” has almost a country/folk flair, and I think it works really well within the album’s context. The second song “Between the Raindrops” is slow, almost melancholy, complete with the strains of Natasha Bedingfield. When I first saw that she was collaborating with Lifehouse, I rolled my eyes, but after hearing this duet, I was amazed by their vocal chemistry.
The music video is also quite lovely. If you haven’t yet seen it, you must. “Nobody Listens” is not as musically convincing as the first two tracks; however, the lyrics do make a point: “Everybody Talks; Nobody Listens.” It’s something to listen to, even if the rhythm isn’t particularly catchy. “MoveOnDay” picks up the pace a bit with deep, rumbling guitars and clearer vocals. The drum and bass kick in quite nicely and maintain a steady rhythm throughout the track. “Slow Motion” is a soothing, lazy track, which kind of reminds me of a driving around the countryside on a hot, summer day. “Only You’re the One” is much more melodic than the other tracks, beginning with light ambience before emotional vocals erupt. I immediately fell in love with this song when I heard it. It’s a song that I could listen to over and over again and not ever get sick of it. “Where I Come From” is a bore. I hate to be blunt, but I cannot say it in a nicer way. It lacks spontaneity–the guitar parts are irritating and Wade’s vocals trespass into the “guttural” territory. Thank goodness the rest of the album was saved by the country-blues number “Right Back Home.” Wow! This one is a stellar mix; the addition of the electric organ was an winning move. Some fans may not enjoy the sudden crash of rock and Gospel, but does add an interesting spice to the rhythm. ‘Barricade” still retains the bluesy quality while being quite gentle at the same time. It slowly transitions into the piano based piece “Aftermath.” The piano, vocals, guitars, and bass melt together into a one magnificent sonic painting. I would have loved to hear this song in concert.
While two of the tracks on “Almeria” did not impress me at all, I would recommend “Almeria” to fans of more mainstream rock. Their sound is not too heavy, yet not too soft. They would definitely appeal to older crowds as well as to people who are not fans of heavy metal.
Rating: 7/10
Written by Kristen Tilbury
Tracklist:
01 – Gotta Be Tonight
02 – Between The Raindrops (Feat. Natasha Bedingfield)
03 – Nobody Listen
04 – Moveonday
05 – Slow Motion
06 – Only You’re The One
07 – Where I Come From
08 – Right Back Home (Feat. Peter Frampton & Charles Jones)
09 – Barricade
10 – Aftermath
Bandmembers:
Jason Wade
Bryce Soderberg
Ricky Woolstenhulme, Jr.
Ben Carey
Discography:
No Name Face [2000]
Stanley Climbfall [2002]
Lifehouse [2005]
Who We Are [2007]
Smoke & Mirrors [2010]
Almería [2012]
Record Label: Geffen Records, Dec. 2012
Weblinks: Website / Twitter / Facebook
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
USA: Metal Helm
Video below for: “Between the Raindrops”