Paulson "Variations" CD
[Initial]
The basically instrumental (with a bit of humming) "Diaryland" opens this disc in a very droning and laidback Coldplay/Radiohead sort of manner, leading into "A Great Pretending", which has more of a dry indie rock angle happening - as well as some strange keyboards with electronics and a talkbox vocal harmony (which I can't say I enjoy, in all truth). Then "Convertible" takes a similar road but gets a bit more dynamic as far as shifting between heavier moments and the softer side, complete with a keyboard "solo" and more subtle vocal effects in the background with the talkbox sort of thing... so I really start thinking this band would be a shitload better without that element. The talkbox vocals just sound silly in this context, and I'm not at all into the way the keyboards get very typical and "hip" the more prominent they get. I can almost live with it because the band is good songwriters and I thoroughly enjoy the recording. The rhythm section sounds awesome, the clean guitars are really lush and the distortion is warm and crisp, the vocals sound awesome, and the mix is dead even. I especially love the fact that the bass is ultra thick and still maintains its own identity. I just wish they'd toss the fucking keyboards, because this would be so, so, so much better without that shit. I honestly find the keyboards to serve no purpose, and the majority of the time they do actually cause a disturbance... those wacky electronic sounding "backing vocals" are simply awful, I'm stunned that they make appearances in so many tracks. They also cover "My Funny Valentine" with a mix of acoustic/electric guitars and programmed/live drums, but while it's one of the more interesting songs herein as far as the actual textures, it's not very enjoyable for what it is (a cover of an obnoxious song from 1937). The last song is an acoustic reprise of "Convertible" with a raw and distant recording, and I actually enjoy that a lot. I totally love the layout, I don't know, it's nothing new, but something about the color scheme and the quality of the photographs really grabs my attention and draws me in. The lyrics are personal but fairly open, and I feel a bit better than average, "If I've learned anything it's that we're blank to this date. If I've learned anything it's that I don't need this pain. If I've learned anything it's that conformity's the only shame we're all guilty of..." I'm torn on this one. I want to like it more than I do because it looks so damn slick, and the songs are well written... and it is damn well recorded... but those fucking keyboards. Son of a bitch. I can't look past them. I really can't. Every time a good song comes on those shitty talkbox vocals will seep in and fuck up the continuity, making "The Hard Way" the best track herein because it's the most stripped down to the core instruments. Someone should smack some sense into these guys, really. They'd be a good band... all it would take is a minimal decision that requires no real effort: Just stop doing goofy things that screw up otherwise solid songs! The keyboards only work in "Diaryland", because they remain under control and in context, and make for a truly awesome piece of music... just think about that shit, please! (6/10)
Running time - 37:28, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: Diaryland, A Great Pretending, The Hard Way]
Initial Records - http://www.initialrecords.com

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