The first thing I noticed when playing Lazarus Beach is a clear and smooth sound. The cymbals shimmer and the bass fills the bottom with fat smooth tone. The vocals are clear, defined, on pitch, have good harmonies, and have good tone with well blended reverbs, doubles and delays that enter and leave appropriately.
Although the musical style might indicate indie rock at times, it is quickly clear the album was produced by someone who knows what they’re doing.
The second thing I noticed is that the music is somewhat odd. The songs move around a lot. Some of the songs are jazz influenced, some are very simple, casual rock songs and some get into what initially seems to be a happy, laid back groove. Several songs contain really beautiful melodies. Song four, “Falling out of Favor with the Neighbors,” even gets into a Beatles feel at points.
Instrumentation is standard at its core with drums, bass, guitar, piano, keyboards and vocals, but is filled with multi-layered vocals, trumpet, flugel horn, trombone, tuba, saxophones, organs, harmonica, pedal steel, ukulele and occasional percussion sounds.
As you listen to the album, you notice the lyrical content is much darker and far more cynical than you might initially imagine. Clever commentaries throughout the album touch on modern social and political issues. Everything seems to fit with some sort of overlying theme that highlights the bleakness of certain aspects of American society.
Overall, this album does a very good job at forming a collective sound through many different styles and feels. Instrumentation and arrangements are done really well, and dynamics are used creatively and effectively to place emphasis in a unique way.
The one thing the album lacks is a single of some sort. None of the songs have that tremendous impact that most classic (not classical) music has. Therefore, I would look at this album as something that I would listen to without skipping songs, but not as something that I would be going overboard to show my friends because it kicks so much ass.
Look for Through The Sparks at The Boro Bar and Grill on Saturday, Dec. 1. If they put on a show half as pleasant as their album, you will definitely have fun.
