Thieves & Liars - When Dreams Become Reality

Album: When Dreams Become Reality
Artist: Thieves & Liars

Track Listing:
1. The Dream

2. Betrayed By Blood
3. Road To Nowhere

4. Slavin' Away
5. Run

6. Alone
7. Forgotten
8. When Dreams Become Reality
9. Good Times
10. Seven Long Years
11. Reconciled
12. The Author Of Dreams

"An epic concept album featuring over 71 minutes of music & a 24-page book. For fans of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd & AC/DC" reads the sticker on the CD packaging. For the most part this is a really good way to put this classic rock style band.

Thieves & Liars have created a near masterpiece with this album, a concept album that follows the story of Joseph found in Genesis. Infusing the straight-up rowdy rock style of Zeppelin with the trippy, experimental passages of Floyd and some wonderfully penned lyrics, Thieves & Liars have really created a stunning debut.

There are some sweet surprises here, such as the amazing, more down-tempo tracks "Alone" and "Forgotten." Both are lengthy, emotional tracks that dynamically build. A number of songs on the album feature string arrangements, that add to the richness of the soundscapes.

All in all this is a great album, complete with a broad spectrum of songs - everything from rowdy rockers to beautifully arranged ballads. Sure to appeal to modern AND classic rock fans, any fan of head bangin' rock should check out this concept album.

Future Of Forestry - Travel

"And if you travel here/you will feel it all/the brightest and the darkest/
and if you travel here/listen to your heart/and take with you what lasts forever."

Album Title: Travel

Album Artist: Future Of Forestry

Track Listing:
1. Traveler's Song (3:49)
2. This Hour (3:41)
3. Colors In Array (5:40)
4. Close Your Eyes (4:02)
5. Closer To Me (4:11)
6. Halleluiah (5:55)

Future Of Forestry is an alternative rock band from San Diego, California. It is headed by Eric Owyoung, whose name may or may not be familiar to you. If you do recognize his name, it's probably because Eric Owyoung was also the lead vocalist for the band Something Like Silas, a band who became somewhat popular thanks to their song "Divine Invitation." But if you're only familiar with SLS, expect something completely new, wonderful, and different from Future Of Forestry.

This album, Travel, is the first in a series of three albums, each with a different "travel" theme. As you can see from the cover, this album is somewhat sonically and thematically themed around flight. Logically, then, these songs soar - the melody lines are big and open, the music practically breathes.

One thing I love about this release is that it can be listened to passively or actively and still be enjoyed. The songs are intricate, but never busy; complex, yet fit together so well that they don't sound that way upon first listen. Another thing I love (about FOF in general) is their use of different and unique instruments. A hand-pump piano was used on this album, as well the

theremin...
...and the musical saw...
...and always a favorite of mine, the tubular bells... (if they aren't on this album it sure sounds like it, and I know they've used them on past albums.)

Anyway, there isn't a bad song on this album (of course it is short, only about 27 minutes). From the wonderful chorus of "Traveler's Song" to the interesting vocal melody of "Colors In Array," to the peaceful guitar of "Close Your Eyes," you just can't go wrong with Travel.

Give the ever-innovative and always creative Future Of Forestry a good, honest listen, and I know they're bound to become one of your favorite new bands.

My Take:
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Must hear!

Album Highlights:
Traveler's Song
Colors In Array
Close Your Eyes

Links:
Future Of Forestry on MySpace
Future Of Forestry's Webstore
Future Of Forestry on Twitter

I couldn't find any songs on the playlist website, so just go to their MySpace (see above links), where you can hear songs from Travel as well as from their newest release, Travel II.

Jóhann Jóhannsson - Fordlândia

Album Title: Fordlândia
Album Artist: Jóhann Jóhannsson


Track listing:
1. Fordlandia (13:43)
2. Melodia (i) (1:56)
3. The Rocket Builder (lo Pan!) (6:25)
4. Melodia (ii) (1:49)
5. Fordlandia - Aerial View (4:33)
6. Melodia (iii) (3:12)
7. Chimaerica (3:23)
8. Melodia (iv) (2:45)
9. The Great God Pan Is Dead (4:56)
10. Melodia (Guidelines For A Space Propulsion Device Based On Heim's Quantum Theory) (9:04)
11. How We Left Fordlandia (15:25)

Jóhann Jóhannsson is a 40-year-old Icelandic-born musician, composer, and producer. A very accomplished man, he's created music for over 10 films and more than 10 stage productions, on top of his studio albums. His compositions on "Fordlândia" are moving and emotional. This music is not for the impatient, and don't expect this to be the kind of music to put a pep in your step---no upbeat songs here---but what you can expect is an album full of slow, gorgeous swells of orchestration.

Just like our other favorite Icelandic musicians (Sigur Ros being the most popular and well known), Jóhann Jóhannsson creates ambiences of another kind, using all sorts of instruments - expect to hear piano, pipe organ, violins, cellos, and bits of distorted guitar.

Fordlândia is a sort of "classical concept album" that tells a story (musically, of course).
The following is taken from Jóhann Jóhannsson's website:
"'One of the two main threads running through ["Fordlandia"] is this idea of failed utopia, as represented by the "Fordlândia" title - the story of the rubber plantation Henry Ford established in the Amazon in the 1920’s, and his dreams of creating an idealized American town in the middle of the jungle complete with white picket fences, hamburgers and alcohol prohibition. The project – started because of the high price Ford had to pay for the rubber necessary for his cars’ tyres – failed, of course, as the indigenous workers soon rioted against the alien conditions... The remains of the town are still there today. The image of the Amazon forest slowly and surely reclaiming the ruins of Fordlândia is the one that gave spark to this album... During the making of the album, I also had in mind the Andre Breton quote about convulsive beauty, which he saw in the image of "an abandoned locomotive overgrown by luxurious vegetation.'" (The track-by-track descriptions/inspirations can also be found at Jóhann Jóhannsson's website)

So before you totally read your brains to death, if you have the time, put on some music from "Fordlândia," kick back in a comfy chair, relax, and just give this a listen---there'll be some tracks in the player if I can find them online.

There is some music that words just can't describe quite right... This is that kind of music. I hope you enjoy this melancholy goodness as much as I have.

My Take: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended.

Album Highlights:
Fordlandia
The Rocket Builder (lo Pan!)
Melodia...
How We Left Fordlandia

Links:
Jóhann Jóhannsson's website
Jóhann Jóhannsson on MySpace