I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, probably in one of my other reviews, but I am a sucker for a string section used properly. I hate to say it but if Creed were to release a song with a wonderfully written part for a properly utilized string section I’d listen to it… and I’d probably listen to it often. While it’s easy to pick on Creed for being a terrible band, it’s not easy to write for and record string sections on pop albums. More often then not string sections are just thrown into the background to give a song or a chorus an inflated sense of scale. But occasionally you come across someone that really understands how to write and arrange for an orchestra. Ari Picker, the main man behind Lost in the Trees, gets it. Lost in the Trees debut album, All Alone in an Empty House, is mesmerizing. The album truly feels epic. The string section really thrives here and provides most of the power to this collection of songs. “Walk Around the Lake” has a thunderous percussion section but still the power and beauty of the song comes from the strings played against the gentle acoustic guitar and Picker’s vocals. The song is exceptional and an early favorite for track of the year in my book. While most of the songs here tend to be slower that doesn’t mean there isn’t any variation happening. The song “Fireplace” sounds very much like a standard indie-rock anthem. While not my favorite song on the album “Fireplace” does do a great service in breaking up the album and providing something different (dare I say “commercial”) to add some energy to the otherwise mellow album. This is an album by an orchestra that writes pop songs rather than the opposite, which is what we almost always get from mainstream music. |
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