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Picking up right where 2003’s The Beautiful Letdown left off, Nothing
Is Sound produces memorable hooks with spiritually challenging and
politically charged lyrics. The mood of this album is a bit darker and more
critical than the previous record, but it rocks just as hard. If you were
wondering if competent rock records are still being made, check out the crunchy
riffs of the lead track “Lonely Nation,” during which lead singer and primary
songwriter Jon Foreman sings, “Don’t leave me hollow, I’m tired of feeling
low, of feeling hollow.” This commentary on consumerism is followed up with
the first single “Stars,” in which Forman ponders in a poetic fashion about
something much greater than the individual. This is fairly heady stuff, and for
the most part it works, even through the ridiculously titled “Happy is a Yuppie
Word” (based on a quote form the iconic and enigmatic Bob Dylan), which recovers
from its goofy title to deliver a solid song.
“Easier than Love” is a heavy handed commentary on consumerism and sex without
commitment, while “Politicians” comes across as overly preachy and utopian as
Forman wails for a “country without borders, without politicians.”
Musically, the record is full of memorable riffs and the production is full,
packing in plenty of sound in every available space on almost every song. “The
Blues” slows things down a bit from the pace of the first 5 tracks, before the
mid-tempo “The Setting Sun,” the poppiest number on the album segues into the
last half of the record.
Although there is not a song as good as “Meant to Live” from The Beautiful
Letdown, Nothing is Sound is a very competent and enjoyable album.
~R. David Smola
pretendcritic@aol.com
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