Track Listing:

1. Summers Lost
2. Ten Ton Brick
3. Aftermath
4. Abuse Of SID
5. Alone With The Sea
6. Talking To God
7. Loded
8. Better
9. Assurance
10. On The Radio
11. Et Al
12. Thank You For Listening

Album Review:

 
Caught in the Rain Again
The familiar ambient sound of falling rain fills the air, and is joined by a lone acoustic guitar playing a simple progression... and so Vol. II picks-up where Vol. 1 left off. The opener, Summers Lost, is an epic six minute track that builds into a maddening climatic twist four minutes into the song... a chaotic and unsettling introduction to this album.

My initial reaction while listening to Vol. II may best be described in a quote by George Bernard Shaw; "All evolution in thought and conduct must at first appear as heresy and misconduct." Many of my preconceptions about how this album might sound were shattered. It is different, and better than I expected.

Consummated
Three of the songs on Vol. II, Alone with the Sea, Loded, and Et Al, previously appeared on HURT's independent release The Consumation. These songs were re-recorded for this album. Both versions of each song stand on their own for different reasons, but the new recordings do benefit from improved musicianship and a larger production budget.

The band members seem to have come to grips with their own abilities and personalities, as well as with each others'. Paul Spatola's and J. Loren's guitar-work, especially during tracks like Thank you for Listening (more on that later), sounds fluid, and is unlike anything they've tried on previously released material. Also, with J. Loren's vocal performance on songs like Aftermath, and Abuse of SID, the listener is treated to some intriguing vocal explorations. There is far-less use of the "AM radio" vocal effects, leaving his voice sounding more natural, and exposed.

The bass and drums are as solid as ever. Drummer, Evan Johns, and bassist, Josh Ansley, get to show off their chops in several spots on the album, like in the songs Loded, and Ten Ton Brick. Several other interesting musical elements are alchemically utilized on this album including banjo, keyboard/piano, violin/fiddle (of course), female backing vocals, and a choir. They even play something that sounds like, and may be, a Dobro at the end of Et Al.

Lyrically this album possesses enough depth and obscure literary references to keep fans on the message boards debating the meanings for years to come, and will further contribute to the mythos surrounding J. Loren. Talking to God may indeed be this album's third act.

It's Just What I Needed
Vol. II closes with the appropriately titled track Thank You for Listening. There are many elements of song writing and performance on this album that we haven't heard from HURT in the past, and they save what may be the best surprise for last. The last three minutes of this track features some kick-ass guitar playing, unlike anything else on the album.

The cultivation of HURT's song writing skills and musicianship coupled with improved production values elevates this album to a higher plane than earlier efforts. This kind of growth in a band, in such a short period time, is a rare and awesome thing to witness... and I already thought they were good before. So many bands of late seem to settle into a groove, and continue to churn out the same type of material over and over. HURT's priority is clear; the music is paramount. Six months from now, and onward, this will be the album I'm still listening to.

Type 3 Rating:

 
| 09.09.2007 | Review by J. Pierson |