I rarely feel the need to post a review on Amazon since they are so quick to get lost amidst the reems of generally positive reviews posted on any item.
But since this album has had so many great reviews i had to stick my thumb out with the simply opinion that this is a really, really bad album.
I wanted to like it, i really did. His debut was rough and enjoyable, and showed plenty of promise. Sadly the production on this album saps the very straightforward and samey tunes of the little hummability they may have had to begin with, and we're left with an overly long, sparse, emotionally devoid album that wouldn't be offensive if it weren't for the obvious fact that he really does seem to think he's making something special here.
Well he's not. The lyrics are ham-fisted and sound like a teenagers (only without the amusing bluntness or shock value), the topics seem to dissolve into each other (save for the ridiculously simplistic take on the current problems of War - which simply sickens the stomach with its token gestures), and his voice has become really very irritating. Fluxuating between two pitches - sub-par 'Athlete' style, and a bizarre throaty hushed scream that grates after just one song.
Their are moments here of far greater artists such as the previously mentioned 'Athlete' and in particular 'Ben Lee', but this album never captures one iota of the charisma, charm, or emotional integrity of the latter, and can't even match up to the production and tunes of the admittedly rather bland former.
Simply put - stay clear of this album. It's about as much of a filler album as is humanely possible. Not a single song stands out.
