Great (four stars out of five)
Abigail's Ghost debuted in 2007 and quickly received heaping praise for Selling Insincerity, though the comparisons to Porcupine Tree were brought up in nearly every mention of the band. This led many to wonder what the direction of the band would be: would they be known as a clone of Porcupine Tree, or an innovative band that took risks at every corner? With its second album, D_letion, the band steers far closer to the latter option, though some hints of Porcupine Tree remain. All comparisons aside, this is an extremely strong album--one that shines when it does take risks.
The opener on the album will connect most closely with Porcupine Tree, with a driving guitar riff and vocal melodies that would definitely fit right in on a Porcupine Tree album. However, the composition of the song and the lyrical approach are novel enough that you don't feel as if you've heard the song before, which is a defining quality of the band that allows its music to remain enjoyable even when it sounds very close to a Porcupine Tree song.
But these moments are far overshadowed by those in which the band shakes the Porcupine Tree sound and crafts wholly original and incredibly enjoyable songs. Much of these come in the latter part of the album, beginning with the fantastic "Gemini Man," which tells a fantastic story while remaining poetic. Musically, it's a slower tune with somewhat sparse instrumentation, but it's atmospheric feel helps it stand out. The next track, "Sneak Peek," takes the atmosphere to an even higher level, with a piano focus that sounds like it would fit right in at a smoky jazz club. The track works wonderfully for these musicians: it allows vocalist Joshua Theriot to explore a different vocal style, and he does it with tons of class. Furthermore, all of the instrumentalists go a wonderful job of fitting right in with that sound. One last mention must go to the haunting "Easy A," which gets kudos both for its choice of subject matter (a teacher/student affair--never heard a song quite like it) and its incredible feel, which fits absolutely perfectly with the story. It's yet another one that allows the band to tread in new territory, and it's a complete success.
There are those songs that don't stand out quite as much, though. "Black Lace" has one of the weaker verses on the album, though it does pick up quite a bit in the chorus. Conversely, "Romantique Life" has a fantastic verse but a less-exciting chorus. I'd also say that those songs that have somewhat stronger Porcupine Tree vibes are somewhat less exciting, but the fact is that they're still great.
In all, this is an album that succeeds when it surprises the listener. Overall, I feel that it's a stronger effort than Selling Insincerity for that exact reason: it offers more instances in which the listeners are likely to sit back and marvel at the ways that the band has risen above the comparisons and offered something brand new. Still, I can't help but believe that we still haven't seen everything that this band can do. The best is yet to come, and I can't wait to see what Abigail's Ghost does next. For now, this is an album that you definitely want to pick up, as there's no doubt that you'll get some great songs.
Andrew Kauz
www.progressivemelodies.com
The opener on the album will connect most closely with Porcupine Tree, with a driving guitar riff and vocal melodies that would definitely fit right in on a Porcupine Tree album. However, the composition of the song and the lyrical approach are novel enough that you don't feel as if you've heard the song before, which is a defining quality of the band that allows its music to remain enjoyable even when it sounds very close to a Porcupine Tree song.
But these moments are far overshadowed by those in which the band shakes the Porcupine Tree sound and crafts wholly original and incredibly enjoyable songs. Much of these come in the latter part of the album, beginning with the fantastic "Gemini Man," which tells a fantastic story while remaining poetic. Musically, it's a slower tune with somewhat sparse instrumentation, but it's atmospheric feel helps it stand out. The next track, "Sneak Peek," takes the atmosphere to an even higher level, with a piano focus that sounds like it would fit right in at a smoky jazz club. The track works wonderfully for these musicians: it allows vocalist Joshua Theriot to explore a different vocal style, and he does it with tons of class. Furthermore, all of the instrumentalists go a wonderful job of fitting right in with that sound. One last mention must go to the haunting "Easy A," which gets kudos both for its choice of subject matter (a teacher/student affair--never heard a song quite like it) and its incredible feel, which fits absolutely perfectly with the story. It's yet another one that allows the band to tread in new territory, and it's a complete success.
There are those songs that don't stand out quite as much, though. "Black Lace" has one of the weaker verses on the album, though it does pick up quite a bit in the chorus. Conversely, "Romantique Life" has a fantastic verse but a less-exciting chorus. I'd also say that those songs that have somewhat stronger Porcupine Tree vibes are somewhat less exciting, but the fact is that they're still great.
In all, this is an album that succeeds when it surprises the listener. Overall, I feel that it's a stronger effort than Selling Insincerity for that exact reason: it offers more instances in which the listeners are likely to sit back and marvel at the ways that the band has risen above the comparisons and offered something brand new. Still, I can't help but believe that we still haven't seen everything that this band can do. The best is yet to come, and I can't wait to see what Abigail's Ghost does next. For now, this is an album that you definitely want to pick up, as there's no doubt that you'll get some great songs.
Andrew Kauz
www.progressivemelodies.com
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