A CD review, by myself, +Ed+ Options

[+Ed+]

A record for a man

Let me begin my review with a few words explaining the title. I do not mean that only men can listen to it and no women are allowed. No way. With this title I would simply like to underline that as far as I am concerned, a man, who went through it all in the life: growing up, becoming a man, finding love, losing love, losing work, finding a friend, losing a friend, getting stabbed in the back.... and remaining honest and true to yourself. And therefore becoming gracious.

1.Appetite. A perfect opener, with smooth bass and perfectly fitted guitaring slides into your head through the headphones and if you get to listen to the song for the first time, you expect explosion any single second. When it comes, it for sure gives you shivers down the spine and the riff starts reminding you of the good-ol' long gone rock, in its most firm and simple meaning. The magnificent voice of Kevin martin, that is familiar to those who have for years adored a diverse singing pattern, starts burning the lines of it directly into your heart. “We all need some lovin' sometimes” ain;'t this line simple and so true, it nails the feeling of every human being? Sure does. 9/10
2.Honest Man. From the very first listen, the luxurious and vivid riff sticks in your head and nodding becomes inevitable. You expect a pure rocker, a bounce-at-your-door hit, but wait... who said that a rocking tune shall not be backed up (or even fronted) by a tremendous text, that will be once again burned or even tatooed across your heart after you hear it. ”In a daze of confusion lies a troubled broken land”. How poetic can simple words be! The best choice as the first single, catchy riff, ground-breaking drum section and for sure the incredible long-awaited solo by Chad Taylor that becomes an inevitable pouring-out of what's been hiding inside during the last several years. Best song on album. 10/10.
3.Guilty Fever. It is simply amazing how music can speak to you. The word “Guilty”, of course, becomes the emphasis in the name of the song and the mean vocals, delivered by Kevin Martin, make up for it to the fullest. A classic rock tune about love the way it shall be. 9/10.
4.The Few. Several fans have revealed an enormous will to read into the lines of this song and find out it is about the recent affairs taking place in Live. I will not take any side, stating one thought: the stunning rhythm section in this one can not leave a listener unhappy. The anger, the strength, the sweat and even blood of every musician in The Gracious Few can be felt as this song progresses. They indeed are “turning it up loud” song by song and so far it is the hardest tune on the record. 9/10.
5.The Rest Of You. Yet another heartfelt tune, with a serene and calm start, that keeps pumping in the feeling, that the blast is inevitable. And here it comes, right on time for the chorus. With all the feeling and the sorrow that a man can ever express, backed-up by the fury of the music, Kevin once again delivers an absolutely unbelievable piece of vocal. 9/10
6.Crying Time. First slow song on the album is also supremely hard during the chorus. Some may understand that it is about losing the one who passes away, to me it is like losing a living person who turns his back on you. Really, once again, the song can be interpreted in nearly any way and that makes them precious. They are firm and straight as a rock song can be, but the lyrics can speak to you on different terms, judging by your mood. A wonderful sing-along by Kevin that I sense will be a fave at their gigs and to me, the best guitar solo by Sean Hennesy on the record. 9/10
7.Silly Thing. The trendiest clutching guitar at the very start of the song is a nice way to start another rocking anthem! Sometimes we all need simple things to make us breathe. Be it a sunny day or rain in a hot country. Be it your kid's smile or your dad's tear. Be it a new song or a old one to get directly to your heart again. Or love. This very song to me bares enormous drumming by the one and only Chad Gracey, who does not feel sorry for his drum kit, taking everything he can and beating the hell out of it. What can I say if I consider him my personal drum teacher.. 9/10
8.Closer. An absolute hit for a screaming session of an angry man full of sorrow with his bottle. Screaming at himself, screaming at his woman far away, screaming at life. This is what sometimes is very well needed. And The Gracious Few offer a wonderful possibility for anyone who can not live without it, to scream along and let the anger out. 9/10
9.Tredecim. One of the most dark and absolutely mystical songs on the album. And once again we hear a song of the one who, being on the other side from the previous song's hero, remains deeply depressed without screaming or letting it out, making the thoughts flow out in an incredibly poetic way: “for days upon days I' ve sailed for your shores, these waters between us all crashing and cold” may be the highlight of the poetic side of the album. 9/10
10.What's wrong. The only song on the album I did not get after the first listen. Some people say it must grow on you. And oh how right they are! Its roots have grown through the tattoos of Honest Man directly into my heart on the second day of listening to the album. A well-deserved rest in such a hard rocking album and it is also perfectly placed among other tunes. 9/10
11.Nothing But Love. The text of this song is so true to everyday life, it really does sometimes scare me. Anyway, what we hear first here is the best bass-guitar part on the entire album, delivered to our eardrums by Patrick Dahlheimer. Feels like every single musician had his chance to reveal what he can do best on this album and the virtuosity of them all separately and all together as an orchestra without a conductor is clearly heard on each track. Sometimes I feel that all they have got is love. Love to each other. Nothing but love. 9/10.
12.Sing. A luxurious closer one can ever dream of! When the musicians tune in to sing with Kevin Martin as how long they have waited to sing their own song, all I want to do is scream in return: GUYS! WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR IT AS LONG AS YOU, THE GRACIOUS, HAVE! Thank you! Thank you for this band, thank you for this record, thank you for staying true to you and to your fans, thank you very much. This song will be sung by every mouth who hears this record. And it for sure will be well deserved by the band. The band who only begins and yet promises a huge future. The band of people, who made a record for a man. 9/10.

Synopsis: I have hardly imagined that this is what I have been waiting for for years. One of the best pure and true rock records in the last decade and it is simply impossible to try and listen to something else. So diverse, so professional, on the other hand so pure and down-to-earth. Incredible. I hope this band will progress (if possible, as they are all perfect) and get the well-deserved tour, sales, money, fans and then – a rest, so expected, the Gracious Rest.

PS do not mention that I gave a 10 out of 10 to HM only. It simply is my fave song and I had to single it out. I would def give them all a 10. If I could.

Oh, wait. I can! It is my review after all!

The album receives 120/120 and becomes my record of the year!

[+Ed+]

You didn't review "All I Hear". Is there a reason for that?

Yup. My stupidity. Just you wait

This post has been edited by +Ed+: Sep 16 2010, 1:23 am