Approaching Normal

5 Comments

1. Keiv D. Spare says:

   April 1, 2010 at 1:47 am

   Approaching Normal. The title of Blue October’s new album is both fitting and ironic. Musically it leaves behind the overdubbed vocals, echoes, unnecessary sounds and electronic trickery that drew the ire of some longtime fans after the release of the band’s previous album, Foiled. On this effort, the band instead embraces a variety of instruments to produce the necessary sounds that drive their music, and although synthesizers are used on many of the songs, they are employed to complimentary effect. Gone too are the days of Ryan Delahoussaye’s violin being the lead instrument, a trend which began with Foiled. Although Delahoussaye is omnipresent on the songs, his strings take on new roles and are used to produce a variety of sounds which provide the supporting textures of the songs. Ryan’s mandolin, piano, and voice are also more prominent on this recording. In other respects the music is far from normalized. Blue October is still one of the most eclectic bands producing music today, and the new album is no exception, featuring hard rockers, ballads, pop songs, dance numbers, hip hop, even a lullaby. Lyrically, it can be argued that Justin Furstenfeld’s words are the furthest from normal that they have ever been, with two of the songs graphically describing violent fantasies. As Furstenfeld (and thousands of Blue October fans) have discovered, expelling these thoughts from your mind and into creative art, is the best hope for sanity and normalcy.

   The album begins with “Weight of the World”, a song which showcases the dichotomies between loud and quiet, harsh and soft, frantic and calm (a persistent theme throughout the record). The verses feature Justin peacefully singing with minimal instrumental accompaniment, whilst the choruses are an onslaught of heavy bass and synthesizer. An epic album opener that builds well.

   “Say It” and “Dirt Room” are the most straight forward rock songs on the album. “Say It” has a good rhythm and gets synthy towards the end and has great drumming too (oh the boom!). You can tell how much fun Justin is having singing it, at one point he yells “wooo!” in between verses.
   
   “Dirt Room” features a violin solo reminiscent of Blue October’s older material. I’m looking forward to seeing this one live, and I’m also loving the backing vocals (wooo hoooo woooo).

   “Been Down” is a mellow song driven by violin, piano, and a smooth bass line. We’re treated to bells and drums, and towards the end C.B.’s electric guitar emerges. Justin’s voice sounds great, and the lyrics are well-crafted “I meant to sympathize… I meant to be a friend… I know apologies won’t erase the end… But I learned that moving on is where I must begin… Cuz when our colors mixed we couldn’t fix the way they wouldn’t blend.” As a breakup song it makes you think, but is also accessible and catchy, reminding me of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”, and Blue October’s own “Two A.M. Loveick”, “Let it Go” and “It’s Just Me.” The song is an instant classic, I can see it appearing in a relationship movie, just after the part where the boy loses the girl.

   Plucked out on acoustic guitar with backing violin, “My Never” is hushed and romantic. Bass and shimmering symbols kick in midway through the first verse, and there are some spacey sounds and mandolin. The vocals are full and strong on the choruses and almost whispered on the verses. The song is quite slow, and as a fan of the rocking songs that opened the album, I’m afraid I’ll get bored with “My Never” faster than most other fans.

   “Should Be Loved” is my new favorite. Within seconds I’m tapping my feet, and then dancing. This quick-paced retro dance number features heavy use of synthesizers and takes me back to the 80s. You can’t help feeling happy and wanting to dance while hearing this song. This is one that will really get the audience moving at the shows.

   At this point I’m loving the album. We’re only halfway through, and already we’ve traversed a wide range of emotions – love, regret, depression, hatred, elation.

   “Kangaroo Cry” is slow and serious, and breaks new ground for Blue October by becoming political. A poignant song, it captures the emotions of saying goodbye to a loved one who is about to travel to a place where you can’t protect them.

   “Picking Up Pieces” starts off slow with piano and bass. It’s a spoken song that quickly becomes upbeat with marimba and oceanic percussion (much like “Into the Ocean”) and by its midpoint is a dancable tune.

   “Jump Rope” embodies how I feel about this album. It’s a constant up down up down. This song is happy and hippy hoppy (think Bobby Brown’s album “Don’t Be Cruel”) with violin and rapped lyrics. It gives advice about life’s up and downs, and how you’ve got to keep your head up, and don’t be ashamed to cry.

   “Blue Skies” zooms and soars and has a fun instrumental bridge with keyboard and guitar and clapping.

   “Blue Does” is a lullaby about how beautiful and amazing Justin’s daughter is. You can hear the love and fatherly tenderness in his voice, and midway through the song Ryan joins in on the singing. This song could be confusing to people who don’t know Justin has a daughter named Blue. Whilst this song is pretty, again as a fan of the rockers, I must confess I would have preferred to have seen “The Fern” or a heavy version of “It’s Just Me” on the album rather than this song.

   Violin plucking and building suspense, a sense of urgency and uneasiness – like we’re driving into war.
   
   Vocals are whispered and creepy. “How far will I go?” Justin asks, and then reveals with each successive verse. Gunshots ring out, further emphasizing the brutal anguish of “The End.”

   Regardless of how you define normal, I doubt Blue October could ever allow themselves to become it, and I doubt their fans would want them to. Blue October thrives on being abnormal and eschewing conventions; this is what makes them unique; this is what makes them a great band. So fear not fans, Blue October may be approaching normal, but they’re still far from it.
   
   Rating: 4 / 5
2. Grungeinspired says:

   April 1, 2010 at 3:47 am

   This album is well worth the purchase. There really seems to be something for every kind of Blue October fan out there. Those who like the harder sound of ” James ” and ” Drilled a Wire Through my Cheek,” will love the rage felt in ” Dirt Room” and ” The End.” Fans who lean more towards songs like ” Calling You ” might like ” My Never ” or ” Should Be Loved.” Some of my favorite songs form Justin and company are the ones that deal with Justin’s personal life and struggles. ” HRSA” and ” Independently Happy” are two of my favorite songs to turn up while I scream at the top of my lungs. Some of the more personal songs on this record seem to be ” Weight of the World, ” ” Say It,” and ” Blue Does.”

   Most fans have heard “Weight of the World” from the live release, ” Argue with a Tree.” The studio version sounds amazing and the background noise of ambulances and hotel staff knocking at the door really set the scene for the song nicely. Some of the other tracks were also heard live during Justin’s ” 5591″ tour, and “My Never” was played during the Breaking Dawn Tour.

   All Blue October fans must add this album to their collection. If you haven’t heard of Blue October then I also suggest you check out the other releases :

   The Answers, Consent to Treatment, History For Sale, Argue with a Tree, and Foiled.
   Rating: 5 / 5
3. Tracey Brooke says:

   April 1, 2010 at 6:27 am

   I am an adamantly devoted Blue October fan. I think History for Sale is the best album I have ever heard and Foiled is a close second. I love this band because they are so unique and diverse, unlike anything else out there.
   
   That being said, this album is a disappointment. There is no distinguishing feature that makes Approaching Normal a Blue October album, apart from Justin’s expressive voice. The startling mix of instruments they are known for is barely noticeable, and the lyrics fail to compare to the gut-wrenching honesty usually associated with the band. This is not a bad album, it is just completely average; something I didn’t expect from such a talented, remarkable group.
   
   If you are not familiar with Blue October, do yourself a favor and buy History for Sale and Foiled, two of the most exceptional and distinctive albums out there today.
   Rating: 3 / 5
4. Connie Sue Yuengel says:

   April 1, 2010 at 7:07 am

   Approaching Normal…

   Blue October starts the year out with a bang. With their tour kicking off the new year for their brand new album Approaching Normal. Justin does it again with his unique lyrics and vocals, shedding light on all those who are enshrouded in darkness with the trials of life. Making you appreciate all the joys in life. His raw passion and emotion he pours into his music allows the listeners to really get the message he’s trying to convey. If you listen closely and study the all of his albums you’ll see he’s telling a story. A story about everyone’s life. Along side his amazing vocals he has an amazing band providing all the emotional vibes pouring out of the instruments. Contrary to their older stuff this album has a more upbeat vibe to it.

   Blue October starts the album off with an older song revamped…Weight of the World. In earlier productions the song had a down and depressed feel. They have now upped the songs tempo to reveal the anger involved with the lyrics. A different side to the same story

   Second they introduce a new song by the title of Say It. All about the one-sided relationships and how when your significate other won’t heed to your words you have to vent yourself to other people who really get you. And by the time they realize it it’s already too late.

   Third on the list is the new single Dirt Room. Already getting tons of request on the radio Dirt Room is about the people who have taken advantage of you your entire life and you are finally taking action, getting back at them for all they’ve tried to get out of you.

   Number 4 is a bit softer in tune. Been Down is another song about the frivolous relationships and how no matter how hard you try you just can’t seem to get what you really want.

   My Never is another soft song about how you fall in love with the “best friend” just knowing that it will never work. But wishing the whole time you wish they could only see the things that you see.

   Should Be Loved is something everyone goes through. No matter what it pertains to we all have the feeling at least once that someone no longer feels the same way as you or they used to about you.

   Kangaroo Cry is Blue October’s first political song about the war overseas. Not known for putting out songs about politics Justin still speaks to the heart of our nation and really captures what we’re all thinking and how we really feel about the war and all our loved ones who are fighting for us right now.

   Picking Up Pieces is covers all aspects of life and how you fail so many times and yet keep going at it. Love, Life, and all the things in between.

   Jump Rope. The title alone is luring in and of its self. This song Justin has dedicated to his little girl Blue. It’s one of their upbeat songs. Also contrary to the normal Blue October style. This song is the uplifting, upbeat song telling you to keep your chin up and keep going no matter what because that’s what life is all about.

   Blue Skies is also about Justin’s daughter and how she has brought him happiness since she has entered his life. But anyone can relate to this as he has worded this song to be able to be betrayed in any way you see fit.

   Blue Does is the last song Justin has written on the album about his daughter. Blue Does tells the story about how Blue has changed Justin’s thinking about life and what it means to him. But as with all his songs it’s up to the listener to portray the meaning behind this song.

   The End is the last song on the explicit version of the album and it is wrought with emotion. Justin pours his soul into the lyrics of this song describing the feelings of someone who has been cheated on by that significate other and how it has broken down their mind and how they are unable to think of anything else. Taking action into their own hands they do something drastic.

   If you buy the edited version of the album you won’t get the raw emotion of The End but into the very different emotions of Graceful Dancing. Graceful Dancing is all about how you must get over problems and do the best you can at what you are able to do.

   Either version of the album is worth getting whether you want the raw emotions or the controlled. This is definitely an album worth putting in the collection. You won’t be dissappointed by this album. Songs for everyday life.
   Rating: 5 / 5
5. grnidcajun says:

   April 1, 2010 at 10:02 am

   I’ve been a fan since 2001, falling in love with the song Calling You. It didn’t take long to recognize the amazing talent these guys bring to the table. With song lyrics so personal, they touch hundreds of thousands of listeners deeply, as tho the songs were written especially for them, if not by them. This new collection of songs brings a different sound that what we’re used to by Blue October. A much softer sound dominates most of the songs, and while I enjoy a lot of the heavier rock-out tunes of the past by Blue, this is a nice change. I am thoroughly enjoying my copy and look forward to seeing them perform the songs LIVE ! Thank you Blue for all you do to enrich the lives of devoted fans everywhere.
   Rating: 5 / 5