|
|
|
Beyond the Pale and Beyond Me |
|
|
|
Written by JOANNA PELLETIER / Photo by ZORAN ORLIC
|
|
Friday, 11 June 2010 |
Welcome to Ashley, a band with Chicago digs, has a reputation for delivering a true indie sound. But their most recent album, Beyond the Pale, is definitely lacking in lyrical quality, storytelling capability and a definitive sound. This album didn't move me at all and I ended up more disappointed than interested.
| | |
Welcome to Ashley | 
"Beyond the Pale"
(Indie)
|
| | |
Various reviews have called Welcome to Ashley one of those “sounds like” bands, drawing influence from David Bowie, The Cure, The Smiths and so on. But after giving this album a few listens, I couldn't find any resonance of those appellations. Instead—and sadly—I found myself skipping more songs than I normally would on an Indy album (especially one that nods so heavily to Chicago!)
In terms of lyrical quality, I found more clichés in each song than I could count, and there wasn't much of a story there. There was commentary on the hipsters in Humboldt Park and Wicker Park, the disparity between North and South, walking past panhandlers and other things that are very real for Chicagoans, but the commentary and the pace of the vocals were not working together.
The slower tracks on the album are a bit of a bore. Songs like “I Love Monday Mornings” and “End of the Line” sound like I sound when I sing random songs in the shower—and I am no chanteuse.
One of the reasons I didn't see any influence of The Smiths, Bowie, etc. is because Welcome to Ashley seems to have a new lead singer whose vocal range and tone are very different from the previous singer. Before Cole Kennedy, the band carried on where The Smiths and The Cure left off, maintaining that sound that was so emblematic of 80s rock. But with Cole Kennedy, they seem to have lost that spirit.
Cole has a great voice—he reminds me a bit of Joey Ramone—and because he has a voice like Joey's, he may be better suited for delivering tracks that have the same pace as “These Dreams of Mine” and “Light of Love”. In these two songs, he delivers an energy that he doesn't carry in the slower tracks.
Overall, I'm sure Welcome to Ashley can do better if they find a sound that channels more energy, wit, and personality. They seem capable of it, and I'm willing to bet a beer on it.
|
Incorrect!
Written by Guest on 2010-06-14 10:44:10
WTA's lead singer, then, now and always, is Coley Kennedy, not "Cole" Kennedy. | Way off the mark...
Written by Guest on 2010-06-14 13:56:10
Beyond the Pale is a solid listen from a great Chicago band! | who the **** is this lady?
Written by Guest on 2010-06-17 12:37:04
this is the first bad review i have ever read about WTA. Joanna, you obviously haven't a clue what good songwriting is. | Well since you asked...
Written by Guest on 2010-06-17 14:03:42
Thank you for the correction, first commentator. Third commentator: as someone who studied rhetoric, poetry and prose--and as someone who makes a living through writing and editing--I do know about good songwriting, and I do know how painstaking the process can be. I'm glad you feel so passionate about WTA, but don't down me because I'm drawn to a different writing aesthetic/prefer creative work that sounds like it's been thoroughly and thoughtfully drafted.
If you think I'm trying to down WTA, you've got another thing coming. I believe in WTA--they have a ton of potential--and I want them to realize everything they work for. I just think they need to find a sound that works for Coley's voice and bring some stronger lyrics to the game (drafting, drafting, and more drafting). In the writing/publishing world, we call commentary like this "constructive criticism", not a bad review. After all, if you had marker on your face all day and didn't realize it--and you had a meeting with a really important person--wouldn't you rather have someone tell you that there's marker on your face instead of sitting through that meeting with everyone, including the said VIP, looking at you funny? Or would you consider that an insult? The words, "Hey bro, there's marker on your face," can be a real life saver, especially in a context like this. This review is my way of telling WTA that they've got marker on their face :-) | What?
Written by Guest on 2010-06-20 08:08:29
This is some of the worst "constructive criticism" I've ever seen. Beyond The Pale is one of the great rock albums of this year. |
Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
